The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will hold its 31st annual meeting and business forum next May in Marrakesh, the London-based institution has announced.
The holding in Morocco of this event, which will open on May 10, illustrates “the attractiveness of the Kingdom as a leading business center and tourist destination”underlined the Secretary General of the EBRD, Kazuhiko Koguchi, quoted by a press release from the Bank.
‘The EBRD’s Annual Meeting, which is the Bank’s annual meeting of shareholders, is an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our countries of operations and to reinvigorate their economies after two years of pandemic-related restrictions’‘, noted Kazuhiko Koguchi.
And to continue that “Holding this event in Morocco highlights the EBRD’s contribution to building the country’s resilience and illustrates its attractiveness as a first-class business center and tourist destination.”
This is the first annual meeting held by the EBRD in a North African country.
Scheduled in hybrid mode, this three-day event comes after two annual sessions that took place in a virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Placed under the theme “meeting challenges in a turbulent world”the EBRD meeting will be ‘‘the opportunity to discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as global challenges such as supporting economic growth, tackling climate change and strengthening the business environment in regions where the Bank invests’specifies the financial institution.
Business Forum panels will focus on digitalization, sustainability and the transition to a green economy, mobilizing private capital, equality and inclusion, alongside other hot topics.
The EBRD Annual Meeting brings together government officials, business personalities, policy makers, academics and opinion leaders.
In addition to the meeting of the Board of Governors, the assembly will be marked by a varied program of side events, such as the Business Forum (including a session on investment prospects in Morocco), activities for civil society organizations calendar and the annual donor meeting.
Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €3.2 billion in Morocco through 83 projects.
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