Tangier, 10 February 2022 (ECA) – ECA Executive Secretary a.i. Antonio Pedro and Deputy Executive Secretary Hanan Morsy concluded today in Tangier a four-day official visit to Morocco.
The ECA delegation met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita, Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Bank Al Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri and the UN Resident coordinator for Morocco Nathalie Fustier.
Key discussion topics included ECA’s repositioning in the changing global context, through leveraging its convening power and ability to present member countries with context-specific solutions.
Within the overall focus on Africa’s sustainable industrialization and economic diversification, ECA’s activities in Morocco and Africa more broadly will cover challenges facing middle-income countries such as the middle-income trap, migration, employment and securing Africa’s fair position in the global financial architecture. ECA and Morocco will co-organize a joint seminar on middle-income countries.
Other key topics included preparations for the ECA Conference of Ministers (COM2023) and the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, scheduled to take place in Marrakech (Morocco) later this year; Africa’s seat at the G20; International financial reform and how African countries can join forces to reposition themselves within the global financial architecture; AfCFTA implementation and funding options for the training of Africans, including migrants.
The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established in 1958 by the UN Economic and Social Council to support the economic and social development of its member States, foster intraregional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development.
The ECA office for North Africa works with Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia, with the aim of supporting the countries’ efforts to achieve structural transformation and balanced development through the creation of an environment favourable to job creation for women and youths.
The ECA Executive Secretary a.i. and Deputy Executive Secretary’s visit to Morocco was concluded on 8-10 February with a strategic ECA leadership retreat in the city of Tangier.