The Seventh Meeting of the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) of the AfTIAS 2.0 Program was convened virtually on 9 July 2025. The session was chaired by Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and Chairman of the AfTIAS 2.0 Program and its Technical Coordination Committee.
In his opening remarks, Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama commended the Committee members for their continued collaboration with ITFC and the AfTIAS 2.0 Program, underlining that this joint effort has been pivotal to the Program’s achievements. To date, AfTIAS 2.0 has approved 23 projects across nine Arab countries and four regional organizations, reinforcing its role as a driver of trade development and economic integration in the region.
The meeting focused on evaluating and approving the sixth package of project proposals, which included three initiatives of strategic importance:
Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama emphasized that these projects are fully aligned with the objectives of AfTIAS 2.0, with significant potential to advance regional trade, strengthen economic resilience, and support capacity building across key sectors, including advanced technology.
Looking ahead, Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama highlighted the First Arab Trade Forum, scheduled to take place at the end of 2025 in Doha, Qatar. Organized jointly by ITFC, the League of Arab States, and Qatar’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Forum will bring together Arab Ministers of Trade, Industry, and Investment to discuss practical ways to boost intra-Arab trade and investment flows. The event will also provide a platform to identify and address existing trade barriers while promoting the role of the AfTIAS Program in removing these obstacles and further enhancing economic integration among Arab countries.
The role of the Program Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) was also praised by Eng. Adeeb Al-Aama and the participants for its valuable contribution in providing technical oversight, ongoing project evaluation, and effective coordination and management of activities in line with the Program’s procedures. At the conclusion of the meeting, and after constructive deliberations, the Committee approved all three project proposals. These projects are expected to strengthen trade infrastructure in the beneficiary countries, support economic diversification, and promote intra-Arab trade, thereby reaffirming AfTIAS 2.0’s continued contribution to building stronger, more competitive, and more integrated Arab economies.