Tangier: The ministerial segment of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (COM 2026) opened on Thursday in Tangier, with the participation of several ministers, government officials, and experts from several countries across the continent.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the event is organized as part of the 58th session of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), under the theme “Growth through Innovation: Harnessing Data and Frontier Technologies for the Economic Transformation of Africa.” This Conference serves as a platform for discussion on ways to promote inclusive and sustainable growth on the continent through innovation and digitization.
Speaking on this occasion, Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah emphasized the importance Morocco attaches to strengthening cooperation and partnership relations with Africa, in accordance with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. She also congratulated the UNECA on the choice and relevance of the theme of this Ministerial Conference, noting in this regard that technology and innovation are now considered drivers of economic transformation in many countries.
For his part, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNECA Claver Gatete pointed out that African growth, while encouraging, cannot yield results without genuine structural transformation. He called for macroeconomic policies better aligned with development objectives, as well as improved investment quality to support the productivity, diversification, and resilience of African economies.
Furthermore, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stated that, in the face of external shocks and international financing constraints, innovation is no longer an option but a necessity. He urged member states to accelerate reforms and investments to make cutting-edge technologies an essential driver of growth, resilience, and economic integration, in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063.
The Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (COM 2026) kicked off with the Conference’s Committee of Experts (March 28-30) and side events (March 31 and April 1), prior to the ministerial segment (April 2 and 3). During the Conference, ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners will examine how frontier technologies-including artificial intelligence, public digital infrastructure, and advanced data systems-can boost productivity, economic diversification, and the structural transformation of African economies.
The discussions will result in ministerial recommendations on digital sovereignty, data governance, innovation-driven growth, and investment in digital and energy infrastructure.