Union of African Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions (UACCIAP)

The Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions (UACCIAP) is committed to promoting the economic and social development of Africa by creating an appropriate atmosphere for the African business community. Their vision is to support the private sector and business community in achieving economic revival through intra-African trade and economic integration. UACCIAP counts its members in 43 countries, and it provides an online portal with resources for professionals of all trades and cultures to meet their needs and objectives.

UACCIAP has established the China Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in 2006 to develop cooperation between business circles in China and Africa. As a member of the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) Transnational Chambers Board, UACCIAP aims to be the voice of the African business community and to eliminate obstacles impeding investment in the African continent. UACCIAP promotes trade, investment, and human resources development to increase the free flow of capital in the region and open markets for African goods and services.

Through its interactive map of Africa, UACCIAP offers valuable information for investors who want to explore the business opportunities on the continent. UACCIAP is committed to creating a healthy market economy in Africa and dealing with the requirements of globalization. By promoting trade and investment, and supporting the African private sector and business community, UACCIAP aims to contribute to the economic revival of the African continent through intra-African trade and economic integration.

The UACCIAP was established in 2005 to dynamize the role of the private sector and boost economic development in Africa, and was promoted worldwide via WCF during its 4th World Chambers Congress in South Africa. 

In 2006, the China Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce was established by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Professions (UACCIAP). The primary objective of this joint chamber of commerce is to enhance cooperation and foster mutually beneficial relationships between the business communities of China and Africa.

The organization is an African business information network to promote African trade and investment. The UACCIAP launched a workshop and exhibition on African agriculture in March of 2009.

To develop a pan-African information source on the private sector, from identifying high-performing business executives to quantifying the number of business start-ups and flagging national strategies to promote entrepreneurship, the UACCIAP also launched a day celebrating African skills and business in May 2009.

The Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions (UACCIAP) is a regional organization aimed at promoting trade, investment, and human resources development in Africa. Its primary goal is to provide a platform that helps the African business community to achieve economic revival on the continent through intra-African trade and economic integration. UACCIAP works towards creating an appropriate atmosphere for the economic and social development of Africa while eliminating obstacles that impede investment in the African continent.

To achieve its goals, UACCIAP strives to be the voice of the African business community. The organization works towards dealing with the requirements of globalization by promoting a healthy market economy in Africa. The aim is to support the African private sector and business community by opening markets for African goods and services and increasing the free flow of capital in the region.

UACCIAP also seeks to develop cooperation between business circles in Africa and the world through partnerships. The China Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce was an effort in this line, established by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and UACCIAP in 2006. Additionally, the organization is a member of the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) Transnational Chambers Board. 

UACCIAP provides an online portal where professionals from different trades and cultures can access resources to meet their needs and objectives. With members from 43 African countries, UACCIAP serves as a critical facilitator of trade and investment in Africa.

UACCIAP and Egypt's Government Support for SMEs

The Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions (UACCIAP) is playing an important role in the Egyptian government's efforts to provide opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to reach international markets. To achieve this goal, UACCIAP is encouraging Egyptian exporters to participate in the electronic catalog launched under the auspices of the Prime Minister and utilize the package of incentives launched by the Ministries of Trade and Industry for SMEs. Additionally, UACCIAP is promoting the catalog among export councils, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and MSMEDA. This is being done through various channels, such as introductory videos, electronic text messages, workshops via video conference and social media, and some television interviews.

As a result of these efforts, SMEs can create a demand for their products through the external branches of El-Nasr Company, which operates a network of sales specialists and agents. To support the logistics of exporting, the government's efforts include an integrated package of services, including land transport from the factory land, sea or air transport to the target market, customs clearance, assembly for small exporters, warehousing, and inspection. These services are provided in cooperation with major specialized international companies in each target market. Additionally, financial services, including working capital financing and export financing services, are offered in cooperation with the National Bank of Egypt (NBE). Insurance on shipments is also provided in cooperation with the Misr Insurance Company. 

International trade events

The Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) and the Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions (UACCIAP) are preparing to participate in a series of international events to promote foreign trade and investment in Egypt and Africa. The events include a global summit in Beijing, China, and the third economic and trade exhibition in Hunan, China, as well as the Arab-German Business Forum in Berlin. The federations will participate with a promotional mission, arranging bilateral meetings for the business communities of the two countries to discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The Arab-German Business Forum will focus on developing and supporting the basic productive sectors of various countries to contribute to raising growth rates, creating new investment and trade opportunities, and identifying the latest technologies and productive variables that will advance and develop joint economic relations. The participation in these international meetings is of great importance, especially in light of the current global economic conditions, to find urgent ways to develop trade and investment exchange and mitigate the inflationary effects that all countries suffer from, especially emerging economies.