The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will partner the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University to hold the second annual MENA Research Conference scheduled for June 29-30, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.
The conference, which will be held under the theme “Rethinking MENA Integration in a Fast‑Changing Global Environment”, will examine the impact of global trade, geoeconomic fragmentation, and technology, including artificial intelligence, on the MENA region with other featured sessions to also discuss the role of monetary, fiscal, and labor market policies in promoting macroeconomic stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department of the International Monetary Fund ,Jihad Azour and the Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University,Karim El Aynaoui,issued the following statement today:
“The war in the Middle East threatens to leave lasting scars on the region’s economic trajectory. This unprecedented shock is forcing countries across the region to reassess their path forward amid an already complex and challenging environment shaped by rapid technological change and shifts in global trade patterns.” they said
The two officials also reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to the region, describing the annual conference as a critical platform for research, policy dialogue, and collaboration.
“The IMF’s engagement with the MENA region reflects its longstanding commitment to supporting countries’ efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability, enhance resilience and growth, accelerate reforms and raise living standards in an increasingly challenging regional economic environment,” they added.
The second edition of the conference comes after the inaugural edition which was held last year, in partnership with the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo,Egypt.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Research Conference is an annual economic research conference which is held in partnership with leading universities in the region and aims to establish a forum for dialogue and knowledge exchange among academics, researchers, and policymakers on significant regional and global economic issues. It also seeks to strengthen economic research capacities in ministries of finance and central banks in the region.
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