Agadir – Morocco is hosting the 58th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (COM58) from March 28 to April 3 in Tangier.
The conference is being held at the Palace of Arts and Culture, bringing together finance ministers, policymakers, and experts under the theme: “Growth through innovation: Leveraging data and cutting-edge technologies to drive economic transformation in Africa.”
Various UN entities will also be present alongside central bank officials for the annual event, expected to exchange views on the status of economic and social developments in Africa.
Tangier is hosting COM58 for the second time since its inaugural edition in 1960. Morocco has previously hosted the conference in Marrakech in 2014 and 2019.
The strategic choice of Tangier for the 2026 edition was acknowledged on January 22, after Morocco signed a protocol agreement with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The agreement was signed by ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete and Morocco Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui.
“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,” Gatete said.
“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,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, Acting Director of the Treasury and External Finance Mohamed Tarek Bchir, delivered opening remarks at the experts’ meeting yesterday, emphasizing Morocco’s commitment to strengthening partnerships across the African continent.
Bchir pointed out the relevance of the conference’s theme, recalling that the role of technological innovation and data-driven approaches is becoming increasingly prominent on the agenda of economic transformation worldwide.