Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohamed Fared, has issued Ministerial Decree No. 201 of 2026 appointing Alaa El-Bially as head of the Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, replacing Essam El-Naggar.
El-Naggar has been assigned to lead Egypt’s commercial office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as part of a wider administrative reshuffle within the trade and investment system.
The ministry said the transition was overseen through an official handover meeting aimed at ensuring continuity of operations and maintaining the authority’s role in supporting investment promotion and foreign trade.
The minister called on the new leadership to develop a modern strategy for Egypt’s participation in international exhibitions, expand target markets, and strengthen partnerships with the business community to boost exports and attract foreign investment.
El-Bially brings more than 25 years of experience in trade diplomacy and investment promotion, having previously worked in Egypt’s commercial representation offices in Canada and the United States, and most recently overseeing investment promotion at the ministry’s commercial representation apparatus.
He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and has held several diplomatic and economic posts abroad, while El-Naggar has previously served in senior advisory and diplomatic roles across multiple ministries and Egyptian embassies.
