Casablanca Finance City (CFC) hosted the 2nd edition of the Casablanca Business Forum on 2 October 2026, under the theme « Africa's Next Economic Chapter ». Nearly 300 companies active across Africa, representing 70 nationalities and operating in 53 African countries, gathered to map out the next decade of continental economic development.
Nobel Laureate Aghion headlines the forum
Professor Philippe Aghion, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, opened the debate by exploring the drivers of productivity and competitiveness linked to technological transformation. The economist argued that Africa holds a structural advantage — a young demographic and rapid mobile technology adoption — to position itself at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.
Five strategic pillars
Discussions revolved around five major themes:
- Economic sovereignty: reducing dependence on unprocessed raw material exports.
- Global competition for capital: attracting institutional investors in a high interest-rate environment.
- International economic governance: reforming global financial institutions to better represent Africa.
- Regional integration: accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Talent mobilisation: retaining local skills and attracting diaspora expertise.
A top-tier lineup of decision-makers
Speakers included Corinne Amori Brunet, Benin's Foreign Affairs Minister; Lionel Zinsou, former Prime Minister of Benin; Mehdi Tazi Riffi, CEO of Tanger Med — Africa's largest port by capacity; and Alain Ebobissé, President of Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure fund. The presence of Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills, highlighted skills development as a key growth lever.
Why it matters
In just two editions, the Casablanca Business Forum has established itself as a reference platform for Africa's economic decision-makers. For Indian Ocean stakeholders — Mauritian investors, Réunionnais operators, Malagasy and Comorian entrepreneurs — the AfCFTA and capital attraction themes represent concrete opportunities to seize in the coming decade. Casablanca is cementing its position as Africa's leading financial hub.
Source: Casablanca Finance City / EcoActu.ma — October 2026