The Egyptian capital of Cairo is to host high-ranking African government officials, heads of international organisations, members of the diplomatic community, leaders of international financial institutions and the business community as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) inaugurates its headquarters building and conducts the investiture of its new president on 20-21 September. The inauguration of the headquarters on 20 September will be performed by a high-level representative of the Egyptian government, according to information released by Afreximbank. The ceremony will be witnessed by high-level representatives from Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, who will be joined by key ministers from Egypt and other African countries, as well as by a host of other dignitaries from within and outside Africa, including central bank governors, political leaders, business leaders, trade experts and academics. The inauguration will be followed on 21 September by the investiture of Benedict Oramah as the new Afreximbank President, to be performed by Alexander Chikwanda, Minister of Finance of Zambia and Chairman of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the bank. Oramah will take over the running of Afreximbank from Jean-Louis Ekra, who will be stepping down after completing two five-year terms as president. Ekra first took office in 2005. Oramah, currently the Bank's Executive Vice President in charge of Corporate Banking and Business Development, was appointed the new President at the 22nd Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank in Lusaka on 13 June. As part of activities to mark the two events, former president of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of the African Development Bank Babacar Ndiaye, and pioneer President of Afreximbank Christopher Edordu, will, on 20 September, participate in a panel discussion on "The implications of building a global multilateral Exim bank". A second panel discussion on 21 September will look at the "Relevance of regional financial institutions", with President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina, the Ivoirian Minister of Budget Abdourahmane Cissé, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Hisham Ramez and, Managing Director of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Sidi Ould Tah, as speakers. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Carlos Lopes will be the moderator. Afreximbank also plans to mount an exhibition of the bank's products and services, including archive photographs, historical documents and art works. The foundation stone for the 12-floor Afreximbank Headquarters Building was laid on 18 December 2003 and construction completed in May 2007. Afreximbank began the use of the building on 10 November 2010, but decided to put off the formal inauguration until a convenient date was identified.
