Tunisia will host the Mediterranean International Trade Forum on October 5-6, 2026, with representatives from over 60 financial institutions, insurance companies, and economic entities from Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Malta, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, and the UK. The forum aims to enhance economic cooperation, develop trade and investment financing mechanisms, and promote partnerships between the financial and private sectors.

The forum, organized by the Libyan Banks Association and the Libyan Insurance Association, in collaboration with the Tunis Stock Exchange and the Tunisian Company for Foreign Trade Insurance (COTINAS), will discuss various topics, including trade financing, risk management, digital transformation, cross-border payments, cybersecurity, and financial technology. The event seeks to promote partnerships between the financial and insurance sectors and the private sector.

The forum's main objective is to support trade and investment in the region, develop financing mechanisms, improve risk management, and facilitate international payments. According to Yassine Bousrouel, head of the organizing committee, the forum also aims to keep pace with digital transformation and developments in financial technology, improving operational efficiency and reducing policy-related risks and fraud.

The forum will feature interactive sessions with international experts from the banking, insurance, and financial technology sectors, discussing trade financing, commercial and political risk management, and cross-border payments. The event will also include business meetings and bilateral discussions to create new partnership opportunities and conclude cooperation agreements.

A specialized exhibition will be organized on the sidelines of the forum, bringing together institutions active in banking, insurance, and financial technology, showcasing the latest solutions in financing, risk management, and international payments. The forum is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations to boost trade in the Mediterranean region.

The recommendations aim to enhance the role of financial institutions and insurance companies in securing transactions, promoting trust among economic operators, and establishing sustainable partnerships. The forum's outcomes are expected to be implemented in 2027, with the organizing committee seeking to make the event a platform for launching practical cooperation initiatives.

The Mediterranean International Trade Forum is a significant event that brings together key players from the financial and insurance sectors, as well as the private sector, to discuss pressing issues and opportunities in the region. With its focus on trade financing, risk management, and digital transformation, the forum is poised to make a positive impact on economic cooperation and development in the Mediterranean region.

Key points

  • The forum aims to enhance economic cooperation and develop trade and investment financing mechanisms in the Mediterranean region.
  • Over 60 financial institutions and companies are participating in the forum, including representatives from Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Malta, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, and the UK.
  • The event will discuss various topics, including trade financing, risk management, digital transformation, cross-border payments, cybersecurity, and financial technology.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.