IMF Conference

Opening Remarks

• Mouatassem Boudiaf, Acting Governor, Bank of Algeria
• Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF
• Sifi Ghrieb, Prime Minister of Algeria

The panel will: (i) discuss the state of economic integration between North Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa; (ii) highlight potential areas for greater integration, including through closer cooperation in global value chains; and (iii) identify actions and measures to accelerate inter-regional cooperation.

Moderator:

• Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF

Panelists:

• Yacine El-Mahdi, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Algeria
• Tarek Shaarawy, Assistant Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation
• Emmanuel Mbarga, Regional Advisor, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The panel will: (i) discuss the state of energy trade between North Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, including backward and forward linkages; (ii) highlight the potential for North Africa to serve both European and African markets with reliable and sustainable energy solutions and leverage its comparative advantage in energy to move up value chains and foster the transfer of technology and the rise of AI; and (iii) identify the actions needed to overcome challenges to greater energy and economic linkages across regions.

Moderator:

• Bahador Bijani, Executive Director for Algeria, Ghana, Iran, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia, IMF

Panelists:

• Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Algeria
• Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security of Italy
• Jean Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the Central Bank of West African States

Financial institutions can support economic integration of North Africa with Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. This roundtable will bring together representatives of major financial institutions to discuss how coordinated financial support, policy advice, and investment initiatives can help unlock the region’s potential.

Moderator: 

• Julie Kozack, Director, Communications Department, IMF

Panelists:

• Mark Davis, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Region, EBRD
• Barbara Marchitto, Head of Country and Financial Sector Analysis Division, EIB
• Andrea Montanino, Chief Economist and Director for Sectoral Strategies and Impact Assessment, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
• Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice-President, Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, AfDB

Closing Remarks

• Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
• Mouatassem Boudiaf, Acting Governor, Bank of Algeria