The Senegalese capital is preparing to become, from 24 to 26 2026, the hub of debates on regional economy with the holding of the International Forum of Economic Press of West Africa (FIPE-UEMOA). Placed under the high patronage of the President of the UEMOA Commission, this event aims to bring together media, public decision-makers, financial institutions, investors, and private sector actors around a common goal: to reflect on the paths to sustainable economic transformation of West Africa. The chosen theme, “Innovating for the economic future of West Africa,” sets the tone for a meeting presented as strategic for the sub-region.
Organized by the UEMOA Media Platform, in partnership with the UEMOA Commission, the forum will also benefit from the support of several leading community institutions, including the BCEAO, the BOAD, and the BIDC. The promoters of the event aim to make FIPE-UEMOA a true platform for dialogue between economic journalists, institutional leaders, development banks, entrepreneurs, agricultural actors, and African technological ecosystems. The stated ambition is clear: to better inform, better promote regional opportunities, and strengthen the role of economic press in integration and investment dynamics.
Beyond its institutional nature, the forum also aims to respond to the structural challenges that the UEMOA region still faces. The note presenting the event indeed recalls that the region is evolving in an encouraging economic dynamic, but still has to deal with limited infrastructure, social disparities, and governance issues. In this context, the organizers argue that a better trained and structured economic press can play a central role in deciphering public policies, attracting investors, deconstructing certain stereotypes, and supporting ongoing changes.
The program promises to be dense. Conferences, high-level panels, practical workshops for journalists, project exhibitions, B2B and B2G meetings, as well as roundtable discussions are among the planned activities. The highlighted themes cover major topics for the sub-region: economic governance, investment attractiveness, public-private partnerships, innovation, fintech, smart cities, regional integration, economic transition, and prospective vision by 2040. A gala evening with the awarding of the Best Economic Media of UEMOA Prize is also announced as one of the highlights of the event scheduled in Dakar.
Through this first edition, the initiators of FIPE-UEMOA hope to promote the emergence of new partnerships, strengthen the skills of specialized journalists, stimulate public and private investments, and contribute to better circulation of economic information in the West African region.
