H.E. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), inaugurated on Friday, November 6, 2026, the 49th Annual Conference of the Interarab Cambist Association (ICA), hosted by Egypt from November 5 to 7 under the auspices of the Central Bank of Egypt.
The conference is being held alongside the semi-annual Council Meetings of the France-based ACI Financial Markets Association (ACI FMA), bringing together leading financial market professionals, banking executives, and policymakers from around the world.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance; Dr. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade; Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group; Abdulla Dawood, Chairman of the Interarab Cambist Association (ICA); and Dr. Nemat Shafik, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.
The event also welcomed approximately 500 participants and representatives of official delegations from 40 countries.
Hassan Abdalla: CBE Remains Committed to Financial Stability and Banking Sector Resilience
In his opening remarks, Governor Hassan Abdalla expressed his pleasure at participating in this prominent international event, which brings together distinguished leaders and experts in treasury management, capital markets, and senior banking management from across the globe.
He highlighted the importance of the topics on the conference agenda, particularly amid the structural transformations reshaping global financial markets, driven by geopolitical tensions, rapid technological advancements, volatile capital flows, and evolving monetary policy directions.
Abdalla reaffirmed the Central Bank of Egypt‘s commitment to maintaining financial stability and strengthening the resilience of the Egyptian banking sector through a transparent approach and an inflation-targeting monetary policy framework, alongside a flexible exchange rate determined by market forces.
He explained that this approach helps the Egyptian economy absorb external shocks, strengthen its resilience against global volatility, and build on the achievements of the economic reforms implemented in 2024.
Egypt’s Foreign Reserves Reach a Record USD 57.5 Billion
The CBE Governor highlighted the positive performance of Egypt’s key macroeconomic indicators despite unprecedented global challenges.
He noted that Egypt’s net international reserves reached an all-time high of USD 57.50 billion at the end of October 2026.
He also pointed to the banking sector’s net foreign assets reaching their highest level since 2011, alongside a decline in inflation rates, reflecting improvements in the country’s overall economic and financial conditions.
CBE Expands AI Applications and Strengthens Cybersecurity Framework
Governor Abdalla emphasized the Central Bank’s commitment to balancing technological innovation with investment in human capital to support the future development of the banking sector.
In this regard, the CBE is leveraging artificial intelligence applications through its dedicated Data Science Hub to improve operational efficiency and enhance economic analysis and forecasting capabilities.
He stressed, however, that expanding the use of artificial intelligence requires robust risk management frameworks, stronger corporate governance, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to mitigate systemic risks that could threaten financial stability and disrupt global markets.
The Governor also praised the professionalism and expertise of the Egyptian banking workforce, noting that many banking professionals have gone on to assume senior leadership positions across various government institutions and ministries.
He emphasized that this reflects the high caliber of Egyptian banking talent and its ability to undertake leadership responsibilities across different sectors.
500 Participants from 40 Countries Attend the ICA Annual Conference
For his part, Omar Khattab, President of the Egyptian Financial Markets Association (ACI Egypt), highlighted the strong international participation and remarkable turnout at this year’s conference, which exceeded expectations.
He noted that the participation of the CBE Governor, together with the Central Bank’s sponsorship, represents a significant addition to the event, reflecting its growing importance and recognition at both the local and international levels.
Khattab explained that the conference, which is hosted annually by a different country, aims to develop a shared vision for addressing current global challenges amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
He also highlighted the Association’s important role in supporting the investment environment by promoting innovation and strengthening cooperation opportunities at the local, regional, and international levels.
Global Economic Outlook and Sovereign Debt Take Center Stage
The 49th ICA Annual Conference features discussions on several major economic and financial issues, including the global economic outlook amid current international developments and the ability of economies to withstand mounting challenges.
The agenda also addresses the future of the international monetary system, as well as the implications of rising sovereign debt levels and increasing financial pressures.
In addition, the conference explores promising investment opportunities in Egypt’s domestic market and across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Africa, and Asia.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Currencies Reshape Financial Markets
Another key focus of the conference is the growing role of artificial intelligence in transforming banking operations, treasury management, asset management, and financial trading.
Participants are also discussing the rapid expansion of digital assets and emerging forms of money, particularly digital currencies, and their potential implications for financial markets.
These discussions take place alongside broader transformations affecting the energy sector, commodities markets, and global supply chains.
ACI Egypt: Supporting Financial Market Professionals Since 1998
The Egyptian Financial Markets Association (ACI Egypt) was established in 1998 and brings together financial market professionals and officials from banking and financial institutions operating in Egypt.
Through its activities, the Association supports professional engagement and the exchange of expertise among specialists in the financial markets sector.
