Cairo hosts 9th Annual Conference of Mediterranean Central Banks

1 October 2025, Cairo. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) hosted the 9th Annual Conference of Mediterranean Central Banks under the theme “Harnessing Innovation and Integration for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in the Mediterranean Region.”

Organised in partnership with Banco de España, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the event brought together central bank governors from across the Euro-Mediterranean region, policymakers, academics and representatives of international financial institutions.

Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Meltem Büyükkarakaş, warned that only stronger integration can unlock the region’s potential. She stressed that the Mediterranean today faces “geopolitical tensions, developmental gaps, social inequalities and the digital divide,” adding that green and digital transitions must be the drivers of future cooperation. She reaffirmed the UfM’s commitment to turning this vision into “concrete actions with tangible impact for the people of our region.”

In his opening remarks, H.E. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, emphasised that the Mediterranean — historically a bridge between people, cultures and continents — must now also become a hub for innovation and resilience. He underlined the need for collective action to transform today’s challenges into opportunities for building a financial system that is more stable, inclusive and sustainable.

Discussions focused on four key priorities: the role of artificial intelligence in finance, sustainable development financing, advancing financial inclusion, and promoting regional financial integration.

Luiz de Mello, Director of the OECD’s Economics Department Country Studies Branch, underlined the pivotal role of central banks in supporting innovation, financing the green transition, and promoting inclusive growth. Meanwhile, IEMed President Senén Florensa warned that the region faces combined pressures from violent conflicts, global trade wars, debt crises and climate risks — highlighting the importance of strong central banks as anchors of stability.

At the close of the meeting, participants agreed that Spain’s Banco de España will host the next edition of the Conference, with a preparatory technical meeting to be held in advance to further coordination among central banks.