Tunisia assumes leadership of the Union of Arab Financial Market Authorities
via Business News5 min read
Tunisia officially took over the presidency of the Union of Arab Financial Market Authorities for the 2026-2027 term on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Hatem Smiri, president of the Financial Market Council, will lead the Union. This appointment followed the Union's 20th annual congress, held remotely with representatives from 16 regulatory authorities across the Arab world, including Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, and Gulf countries. Smiri stated that this presidency reflects confidence in Tunisia's financial market and its advanced regional position, acknowledging reforms in supervision and market transparency. The Tunisian delegation highlighted recent regulatory developments in financial control and anti-money laundering efforts. Priorities for the upcoming period include strengthening on-site control, monitoring infractions, and tightening the repressive framework to enhance transparency, restore investor confidence, and boost the Tunisian market's attractiveness for both local and foreign capital. The meeting also addressed strategic issues for Arab markets, such as the 2026-2030 strategic plan to accelerate the integration of Arab capital markets and improve their capacity to finance regional economies. Discussions also covered cross-border financial activities, capital flow management, cybersecurity, and financial technologies. The Union approved a regional self-learning platform for continuous training to strengthen sector skills and support digital transformation, esp
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