The Union of Arab Chambers participated in the Arab Annual Banking Conference 2025, organized by the Union of Arab Banks on 27–28 November 2025 in Beirut, with the participation of Arab finance ministers, heads of banking institutions, international experts, and representatives of regional and global organizations.
The conference featured in-depth discussions on current economic challenges in the Arab region, with a particular focus on reconstruction, improving the business environment, sustainable financing mechanisms, and the role of digital transformation and innovation in supporting economic recovery. Speakers reviewed global economic shifts and their implications for Arab countries, highlighting the importance of reforming business environments and developing legislative and regulatory frameworks, in addition to strengthening economic ties among Arab states to attract high-quality, long-term investments.
The conference addressed the strategic role of Arab banks in supporting productive sectors, considering them key partners in financing reconstruction projects and serving as a bridge to international financing institutions, along with the complementary role the insurance sector can play in supporting these efforts. The importance of public-private partnership models was also emphasized, as speakers presented successful experiences from Arab countries demonstrating the impact of legislative frameworks and governance on the success of major infrastructure projects.
The Union of Arab Chambers presented a vision outlining the role of the Arab private sector in development, focusing on three main messages:
- Transitioning from participant to development partner: Emphasizing the need for a new partnership model based on joint planning, clear governance, and complementary roles between the public and private sectors, ensuring sustainable reconstruction projects and achieving real economic impact.
- Sustainable finance as a key entry point to rebuilding economies: Highlighting the importance of diversifying financing tools (green bonds, blended finance, performance-based instruments) and the role of Arab banks in directing capital toward productive sectors, thereby enhancing the resilience and recovery capacity of Arab economies.
- Innovation and entrepreneurship as critical drivers of growth: The intervention presented a broad vision of innovation that goes beyond startups to include modernizing traditional sectors, digital transformation, and integrating advanced technologies into industry, agriculture, and services in support of job creation and inclusive growth.
The session saw positive engagement with the ideas presented, especially regarding the role of the private sector in reconstruction and the need for a unified Arab framework for sustainable finance. Speakers also expressed interest in developing cooperation channels between financial institutions and Arab chambers of commerce to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from new financing tools.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
