ECA, Morocco sign host agreement ahead of 2026 conference of ministers



UN Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete and Morocco Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui have signed the Host Country Agreement for the organization of ECA’s 58th session and Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM2026). 

The agreement sets out the areas of cooperation between the Morocco and the United Nations secretariat in planning and organizing the session, which serves as ECA’s principal policy-making organ. 

COM 2026 will be taking place later this year in Tangiers, northern Morocco, from 28 March to 3 April under the theme: “Growth through innovation: harnessing data and frontier technologies for the economic transformation of Africa”. 

“We thank Morocco for its leadership and trust. By hosting COM 2026 in Tangier, Morocco is helping elevate Africa’s collective economic voice and demonstrating how national leadership can drive regional solutions with global impact. 

"Hosting COM 2026 in the city of Tangier also positions Africa’s economic message at the intersection of regions, institutions, and markets, strengthening Africa’s voice in global economic governance,” said Mr Gatete about the agreement. 

“Now is the time to deliver an impactful conference that goes beyond political commitment and leads to concrete action for Africa’s economic and social transformation,” he added. 

The Conference is an annual, continental UN event that brings together African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, governors of central banks, and entities of the United Nations system to engage and exchange views on the state of economic and social developments in Africa. 

This year, discussions will include a special focus on how African countries can leverage innovation, data and frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence, in support to economic transformation and job creation. The Conference will also propose practical steps by which African member States can assert digital sovereignty, including the adoption of digital public infrastructure and data centers. 

Participants will include ministers, experts and government representatives, pan-African financial institutions, youth representatives, African academic and research institutions, development partners, intergovernmental organizations, media and other key stakeholders. 

The ECA Executive Secretary Mr Gatete is currently on a work visit to North Africa. From 21 January to 3 February, he will be visiting Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco to meet with government officials, discuss their countries’ experiences, their needs for support and opportunities for deeper cooperation and South-South cooperation. 

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