Mr. Mohammed Tarik Bchir, Acting Director of the Treasury and External Finances, represented the Minister of Economy and Finance at the Round Table held under the theme “Harnessing technology for economic growth and transformation,” organized as part of the Ministerial Segment of the 58th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM58) of the ECA, hosted by Morocco from March 28 to April 3, 2026, in Tangier, under the theme “Growth through innovation: Harnessing data and cutting-edge technologies for Africa’s economic transformation.”
The objective of this Round Table is to provide decision-makers with a strategic framework for analysis and action to mobilize cutting-edge technologies and data as an economic asset, in order to increase productivity, deepen value creation, and accelerate structural transformation in a context of budgetary constraints.
During this Round Table, Mr. BCHIR delivered opening remarks in which he highlighted the relevance of the theme, emphasizing the important role of technology as a lever for economic sovereignty, competitiveness, and sustainable development. In this regard, he stressed the unprecedented acceleration of technological transformations, driven in particular by artificial intelligence, data, and green technologies, and their tangible impact on strategic sectors such as industry, public administration, agriculture, and energy.
Mr. BCHIR also participated in the proceedings of this Round Table as a panelist, alongside Mr. Gibril Ibrahim, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan; Mrs. Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone; Mr. Emanuel Toutouba, Governor of the Central Bank of Tanzania; and Mr. Paul Tasong, Chair of the Bureau of COM58 and Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development of Cameroon.
During the discussions, Mr. BCHIR highlighted the decisive role of technology and innovation in accelerating economic development in Africa, calling for fully leveraging this transformation to meet growing financing and development needs.
Sharing Morocco’s experience, he stressed that digitalization has been a major lever for consolidating public finances, particularly through strengthening domestic resource mobilization. In this regard, he highlighted the reforms undertaken in this area, within the framework of the strategic vision led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, which have enabled a significant increase in tax revenues over the past five years.
The Acting Director of the Treasury and External Finances also addressed the important role of digitalization in the financial sector as a driver of development and inclusion, by providing new access channels to populations still excluded from financial services, as well as to the African diaspora.
Finally, he emphasized the historic nature of the current momentum for Africa, considering that digital transformation represents a unique opportunity to accelerate the continent’s economic catch-up, while reaffirming that the Moroccan experience can, in this regard, serve as an inspiring model.