The Union of Arab Chambers participated in the 2025 Africa Economic Symposium held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, from 14 to 15 July 2025, at the invitation of the Policy Center for the New South, under the theme: “Bold Steps Amid Global Transformations.”
The symposium was marked by high‑level attendance, bringing together economic experts and representatives of international institutions and prestigious research centers from more than 40 countries. During the symposium, the sixth annual edition of the Africa Economic Report was discussed.
The sessions revolved around two main tracks:
1. Macroeconomic Policy Challenges: focusing on monetary policy amid uncertainty, public‑debt management, and fiscal sustainability.
2. African Economic Transformation: discussing ways to enhance trade and integration, the role of economic corridors, central‑bank digital currencies, and the future of development finance beyond traditional aid models.
The sessions highlighted the importance of moving toward innovative financing models based on mobilizing domestic resources and smart partnerships instead of excessive reliance on aid. They also emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by removing non‑tariff barriers and developing infrastructure and logistical connectivity.
The role of central‑bank digital currencies (CBDCs) was presented as a means of promoting financial inclusion and reducing remittance costs, especially in marginalized regions. Growing interest was also noted in the experience of economic corridors as a tool for achieving inclusive development, provided that effective regional‑governance mechanisms are in place.
The issues raised showed a direct link to the efforts of the Union of Arab Chambers in strengthening Arab–African economic integration, particularly regarding empowering the private sector to engage in economic‑corridor projects and green finance, directing investments toward productive and digital sectors in Africa, and supporting institutional frameworks to enhance coordination between Arab and African chambers of commerce.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
