{"id":13588,"date":"2026-09-21T15:50:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T14:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/?p=13588"},"modified":"2026-09-21T15:50:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T14:50:03","slug":"cafrad-participates-in-the-6th-edition-of-the-fez-meknes-economic-forum-focused-on-cooperation-networks-for-sustainable-and-inclusive-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/cafrad-participates-in-the-6th-edition-of-the-fez-meknes-economic-forum-focused-on-cooperation-networks-for-sustainable-and-inclusive-development\/","title":{"rendered":"CAFRAD Participates in the 6th Edition of the Fez-Meknes Economic Forum, Focused on Cooperation Networks for Sustainable and Inclusive Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A delegation from the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) took part in the 6th<\/sup> edition of the Fez-Meknes Economic Forum, held from June 24 to 26, 2026. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Fez-Meknes region, the event was themed “Cooperation Networks: For Sustainable and Inclusive Development.”<\/p>\n

Held against a backdrop of rapid economic, technological, and geopolitical change, the Forum brought together high-ranking officials, government representatives, international and regional organizations, chambers of commerce, consular institutions, technical and financial partners, academics, investors, and private sector stakeholders from across Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean basin.<\/p>\n

Throughout the three-day event, CAFRAD followed with keen interest the strategic discussions regarding the strengthening of cooperation networks, the digital transformation of institutions, African economic integration, and the promotion of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development. This participation aligns with the Centre\u2019s mission to promote the modernization of public administration, strengthen institutional capacities, and foster partnerships that support governance and development across the African continent. An opening ceremony focused on strengthening economic partnerships<\/p>\n

The Forum\u2019s proceedings were officially opened by Mr. Hamza Benabdallah, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services for the Fez-Meknes region, following the playing of the Kingdom of Morocco\u2019s national anthem and the screening of an institutional video highlighting the region’s economic potential and the objectives of this sixth edition.<\/p>\n

In his opening address, the President emphasized that cooperation networks are now a vital tool for boosting regional competitiveness, fostering investment, supporting innovation, and accelerating regional and continental economic integration. He called for the development of sustainable partnerships among public institutions, the private sector, international organizations, and local authorities to effectively address development challenges.<\/p>\n

Throughout the first day, speakers highlighted the need to strengthen economic cooperation between states, foster complementarity among African economies, and promote cooperation mechanisms capable of supporting growth, job creation, and business development\u2014particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Discussions also showcased the economic assets of the Fez-Meknes region, including its strategic location, diverse economic landscape, potential in industry, agriculture, handicrafts, and tourism, as well as the quality of its human capital.<\/p>\n

The ceremony also featured the signing of several partnership and cooperation agreements between the Fez-Meknes Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services and various partner institutions, reflecting a shared commitment to boosting economic exchange, investment, knowledge transfer, and support for economic operators.<\/p>\n

Chambers of commerce facing the challenges of artificial intelligence<\/strong><\/p>\n

The second day of the Forum was dedicated to several thematic panels focusing on digital transformation, innovation, and new forms of economic cooperation. The first panel, titled “Professional Chambers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” was a highlight of the proceedings, focusing on the profound transformations brought about by emerging technologies in the governance of consular institutions.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the event, Mr. Julian Kassum, Deputy Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Network, highlighted how artificial intelligence is gradually transforming the organizational structures and services offered by chambers of commerce. He emphasized the need to support businesses in their digital transition through innovative services, capacity building, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence grounded in principles of trust, transparency, and ethics.<\/p>\n

Speaking next, Mr. Kebour Ghenna, Executive Secretary of the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), highlighted the digital transition as a key factor in accelerating African economic integration and boosting the competitiveness of the continent\u2019s businesses. He particularly emphasized the role of chambers of commerce in supporting SMEs, fostering innovation, and developing intra-African trade.<\/p>\n

For his part, Mr. Luis Miranda Molas, Project Manager at the Department of Projects and International Cooperation of the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), presented several initiatives aimed at promoting cooperation among chambers of commerce across the Mediterranean region, encouraging the sharing of experiences, and supporting the digital transformation of economic institutions.<\/p>\n

The discussion was further enriched by remarks from Mr. Faman Tour\u00e9, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, who urged African chambers of commerce to fully leverage the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence to improve their services and enhance efficiency, while ensuring an inclusive digital transformation that benefits all businesses.<\/p>\n

Beyond the panelists’ presentations, the discussions highlighted the need to develop digital skills, strengthen partnerships among chambers of commerce, universities, research centers, and the private sector, and foster enhanced international cooperation to support the modernization of chambers of commerce.<\/p>\n

CPCCAF statutory meetings fostering economic cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third day was dedicated to the statutory meetings of the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CPCCAF), featuring the Cooperation Committee meeting followed by the General Assembly. The proceedings provided an opportunity to review activities carried out during the previous term, evaluate cooperation initiatives across various geographic regions, and examine prospects for the network’s development. Participants emphasized the need to consolidate institutional partnerships, diversify funding sources, and strengthen cooperation among member chambers to improve business support and promote economic integration.<\/p>\n

The General Assembly also reviewed and approved the activity and financial reports for the 2025 fiscal year before debating the Conference\u2019s strategic and budgetary directions. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the values \u200b\u200bof solidarity, cooperation, good governance, and shared development, while calling for the continued modernization of the CPCCAF to strengthen its role in promoting economic exchange within the African and Francophone regions.<\/p>\n

Participation reinforcing CAFRAD\u2019s commitment to African cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The participation of the CAFRAD delegation in the sixth edition of the Fez-Meknes Economic Forum illustrates the Centre\u2019s dedication to initiatives that foster dialogue, the sharing of experiences, and cooperation among African and international institutions.<\/p>\n

By taking part in the Forum\u2019s various sessions, the CAFRAD delegation engaged with discussions on new models of economic cooperation, network governance, digital transformation, institutional innovation, and capacity building for development-oriented organizations. These themes align closely with the Centre\u2019s priorities regarding public administration modernization, skills development, and the promotion of effective, innovative, and inclusive governance. Through this participation, CAFRAD reaffirms its readiness to continue working alongside its African and international partners to promote innovative public policies, strengthen institutional capacities, and contribute to the emergence of an Africa that is more integrated, more resilient, and resolutely committed to sustainable and inclusive development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”no_stripe”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1790002180756{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”] A delegation from the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) took part in the 6th edition of the Fez-Meknes Economic Forum, held from June 24 to 26, 2026. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Fez-Meknes region, the event was<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[121],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13588"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13588"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13589,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13588\/revisions\/13589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafrad.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}