African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson reaffirmed Africa's commitment to a bold & equal partnership with the United States, stating, 'We're not seeking aid, but building co-created solutions"
He noted that with 1.3 billion people, abundant resources,&a surge in innovation, Africa is poised for transformative growth. From agribusiness in West Africa to fintech in East Africa, the AU is supporting private sector-led development across all regions.
He also underscored that strategic sectors such as manufacturing, digital, energy,&agro-industry, are open for U.S. investment. The AU's Private Sector Forum, SME and startup legislation,&its Digital Strategy are laying the groundwork for inclusive, sustainable prosperity.
He concluded by saying "this should not just be a summit, but a call to action,' he said. 'Together, let's walk the pathways to prosperity—with unity, purpose,&Agenda 2063 as our guide.'
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
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Gulf Business
15 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
From dishwasher to dealmaker: Haitham Mattar's bold IHG expansion plan
Haitham Mattar is the MD for IHG Hotels & Resorts Middle East, Africa and Southwest Asia. (Supplied) Haitham Mattar has seen the hospitality industry from every angle. He started as a dishwasher in Atlanta, rose through the ranks of global hotel giants, and today leads IHG Hotels & Resorts across the Middle East, Africa and Southwest Asia as its managing director. But beyond the impressive career journey, Mattar is on a mission to reshape regional tourism and inspire the next generation. 'I've been in hospitality for over 30 years,' he tells Gulf Business. 'I actually stepped away for a while to head up tourism for Ras Al Khaimah, then advised Saudi Arabia, before coming back to IHG. I started right at the bottom, in the kitchen, scrubbing pots and pans, and I learned very quickly that no job is too small in hospitality. That's why I wrote my book Pots and Pans and Five-Year Plans: it's intended to inspire the younger generation to dream big.' The book, published earlier this year, dives into resilience, navigating adversity, and building a fulfilling career, whether in hospitality or another industry. It charts Mattar's story from his childhood in Lebanon during the civil war, to immigrating to the US at age five, and launching his career at the Courtyard by Marriott in Georgia. 'I started as a dishwasher,' he recalls. 'I was 17 and just wanted a weekend job like my friends. I didn't want to rely on my family for pocket money, so I took what I could get. But I was curious — how did the chef make breakfast? How could I master whatever role I had? That mindset stayed with me.' From Marriott, Mattar eventually joined IHG, beginning with a role at the InterContinental Dubai on the Creek. 'I started in rooms division, then became Director of Sales and Marketing. I stayed about five years before moving into a regional role covering East Africa. 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'We've also signed Greenfield projects, including the world's tallest hotel tower under our Vignette Collection brand.' Despite a high volume of new supply, Dubai's hotel occupancy rarely dips. 'The city's average occupancy has never dropped below 75 per cent. That's a testament to the leadership's strategy of aligning supply with demand,' he says. Regional gaps and opportunities Beyond the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Mattar sees mixed readiness across the rest of the GCC. 'Oman has huge potential — rich culture, great food, incredible nature. But they haven't fully bounced back from COVID. Key markets like Germany and the UK haven't returned in the same numbers,' he says. 'There's a new tourism minister and a solid strategy in place, so I'm optimistic.' Kuwait, however, has not prioritised tourism yet. 'There's limited hotel development. We're opening a new InterContinental soon and recently launched a Vignette Collection hotel on the beach, but it's still mainly business travel.' 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'Today's traveller wants to stay in hotels that practise what they preach on sustainability. They want to be part of the journey,' he says. IHG's Journey to Tomorrow is a 10-year global sustainability plan, and the group has embraced it across the region. 'Over 85 per cent of our hotels in this region have adopted practices like water conservation, LED lighting, and energy-efficient room management systems,' says Mattar. One example is in-house water bottling to eliminate plastic waste. Another is IHG's Green Engage programme, which provides hotel managers with more than 200 actions to reduce carbon footprint and energy usage. 'Many of our properties now have intelligent in-room systems that regulate air conditioning, lighting, and energy consumption based on guest behaviour,' he explains. 'Guests notice the details. They ask questions. They expect no single-use plastics. They want towels reused, not washed daily. Sustainability is now part of the decision-making process.' One of IHG's latest developments is the debut of its first Kimpton in the UAE with a new signing in Dubai's Business Bay. Market insights When it comes to the UAE's top source markets, India leads year-round, followed by the UK, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and the US. 'The US is especially strong for conferences,' Mattar says. In Saudi Arabia, the guest mix is highly diverse. 'The holy cities attract Muslims from all over the world — China, the US, the UK. But we're also seeing more interest from American and European travellers who are curious about Saudi's transformation.' India continues to be a key market for Saudi Arabia as well. 'We're seeing more visiting friends and relatives traffic. That helps the wider ecosystem because people spend on malls, restaurants, and entertainment — not just hotel rooms.' Looking ahead With rising tourism targets in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Mattar believes collaboration is essential. 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Zawya
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Zawya
13 hours ago
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