Casablanca to Host the African Financial Summit 2025 to Enhance Sovereignty and Financial Integration Across the Continent
Follow-Up
The African Financial Summit (AFIS), set to hold its fifth edition on November 3 and 4, 2025, in Casablanca, is establishing itself as a vital platform for strengthening the integration and resilience of the African financial sector.
During the launch conference held on Tuesday in Casablanca, Olivier Noël, the summit’s secretary-general, emphasized that the central goal is to overcome the fragmentation faced by financial markets across the continent. Representing Amir Ben Yahia, President of Jeune Afrique Media and General Director of the summit, he stated: “In the spirit of integration, AFIS provides an annual space for decision-makers in the private sector and regulatory bodies to meet in an open and cooperative framework.”
This event was initiated in 2021 through the efforts of Jeune Afrique Media and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), quickly gaining significant visibility. The 2024 edition attracted over 1,200 high-level participants, reaffirming its role as a catalyst for macroeconomic thinking in Africa amidst financial disruptions and impactful tariffs.
The 2025 edition carries the theme: “Our Capital, Our Strength: Let’s Liberate Africa’s Financial Sovereignty,” focusing on mobilizing local savings, pension funds, and capital markets, while prioritizing regional and continental solutions.
David Tinel, the regional representative of the IFC for the Maghreb, highlighted Morocco’s strategic importance, stating: “The IFC considers the Kingdom a unique platform for discussing the financing challenges of value chains and the transformations of financial systems across the continent.” He noted that the choice of Casablanca reflects an international recognition of Morocco’s pivotal role within the African financial landscape.
In a similar vein, Tarik Senhaji, General Director of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, stressed the economic capital’s ambition to establish itself as an indispensable African financial hub. He remarked: “Hosting AFIS for the second consecutive year in Casablanca embodies the Kingdom’s commitment to building an integrated and inclusive African finance.”
The launch also featured contributions from Mohamed Tarek Bchir (Treasury and External Finance Directorate), Mehdi Talzi (General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises and Cover Edge), and Wafaa Meriah (Atlantic Re), reflecting the institutional and private mobilization surrounding this continental event.
Over two days, AFIS 2025 will bring together regulatory bodies, banks, investors, insurance companies, and representatives from the private sector to craft practical solutions aimed at building a stronger African financial industry capable of meeting the aspirations of sovereignty and inclusive growth for the continent.
