IMF Conference

North Africa: Connecting Continents, Creating Opportunities

North Africa: Connecting Continents, Creating Opportunities

Algiers Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center
Algiers, Algeria

February 5, 2026

The IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department is co-organizing with the Bank of Algeria a conference titled North Africa: Connecting Continents, Creating Opportunities.

This conference will explore the challenges and opportunities of deeper regional integration and highlight policy priorities to advance economic cooperation. Positioned between Europe’s industrial demand and Africa’s demographic dynamism, North Africa holds a unique opportunity to serve as a strategic connector in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Geopolitical shifts and ongoing diversification efforts create momentum to strengthen trade ties, optimize resources, and climb global value chains. Closer economic linkages between North Africa, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa can build greater resilience and shared growth across all three regions.

Agenda

9:30–10:00 AM

Opening Remarks

  • Mouatassem Boudiaf, Acting Governor, Bank of Algeria
  • Sifi Ghrieb, Prime Minister of Algeria
  • Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF
10:00–11:00 AMPanel Discussion 1: North Africa — Connecting Continents, Creating Opportunities
 

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
  • Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation of Egypt
  • Emmanuel Mbarga, Regional Advisor, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
11:15–11:30 AMCoffee break
11:30 AM–12:30 PMPanel Discussion 2: Leveraging the Energy Sector—A Foundation for Deeper Economic Integration
 

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:

  • Godfrey Mutizwa, CNBC Africa

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
  • Vera Daves de Sousa, Minister of Finance of Angola, Chair, African Union
  • Jean Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the Central Bank of West African States
2:00–3:00 PMRoundtable Discussion: How Can Financial Institutions Help?
 

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.

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, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
  • Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate & Green Growth, AfDB
3:00–3:15 PM

Closing Remarks

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

All times listed are local times.