Middle East & Central Asia News
LAST UPDATE: July 22, 2025
IMF, Central Bank of Azerbaijan seek new avenues for stronger co-op
The IMF and Azerbaijan’s central bank are exploring enhanced cooperation on macroeconomic policy, digital finance, interbank markets, and resilience in recent meetings in Baku.
Insight
Strengthening this partnership can help Azerbaijan diversify its economy and modernize its financial system amid global energy market volatility.
Morocco’s central bank explores digital currency cross-border payments
Bank Al‑Maghrib is evaluating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for peer-to-peer and cross-border payments, working with the IMF, World Bank, and Egypt’s central bank, with crypto regulation under review.
Insight
Morocco is positioning itself as a fintech innovation leader in Africa, but success depends on establishing clear rules and ensuring compatibility with global digital payment systems.
