The United Arab Emirates has confirmed the participation of Emirates Airline in the forthcoming Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE), scheduled to take place in Abuja between November 24 and 25.
The participation of Emirates Airline underscores UAE’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria and the African continent, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade, and creative enterprise.
The expo is organised by Afrocultour in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, and was recently endorsed by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In a confirmation letter sent to the Chief Executive Officer of Afrocultour, Mr. Chuks Akamadu, the UAE Embassy extended its warm regards and appreciation for the invitation.
As one of the world’s leading carriers, Emirates’ involvement in the expo reflects its dedication to promoting connectivity, innovation, and economic growth.
A statement issued expressed hope that the expo would present a unique opportunity for the UAE’s reaffirmation of its continued partnership with Nigeria and, indeed, the entire African continent in advancing initiatives that drive sustainable development and mutual prosperity.
The upcoming expo aims, among other objectives, to urge African countries to commit to a significant increase in their annual budgetary allocations for tourism and the creative economy, and to inaugurate “Agenda 2030.”
Agenda 2030 aspires to elevate Africa’s contribution to global trade — currently less than 3 per cent — to at least 10 per cent, and to increase the continent’s 5 per cent share of the $11 trillion global tourism revenue to at least 20 per cent by the year 2030.
Organisers believe this transformation can be achieved through mainstreaming tourism, the cultural industry, and entertainment into the service sector, and instituting a peer-review mechanism among African countries to compare notes bilaterally and multilaterally on emerging tourism and creative industry trends for mutual profit.
