CAREC Institute Highlights Financing and Corridor Data for Regional Integration

The CAREC Institute contributed to the 6th Consultative Forum of Regional Cooperation Organizations in the OIC Region in Casablanca, Morocco, on 5–6 October 2026, focusing on financing channels to move cross-border projects from concept to implementation. Discussions covered project-preparation support, development finance, guarantees, blended finance, regional facilities, and other risk-sharing tools for energy, transport, digital connectivity, and related investments. Dr. Asif Razzaq, Senior Research Specialist at the CAREC Institute, represented the Institute at the Forum.

The Institute also presented the CAREC Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring (CPMM) mechanism, which identifies where time and costs accumulate between seaports, inland corridors, and border crossings. Corridor data can help governments and development partners identify constraints, sequence interventions, and direct financing toward locations where trade costs are highest, addressing port capacity and border performance together.

The Forum developed a matrix of potential regional initiatives with IsDB, ICDT, WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, and participating regional cooperation organizations. These initiatives could be advanced through research grants, joint analytical work, project preparation, and collaborative programs in 2027, combining project preparation, financing structures, and corridor-level evidence to support regional cooperation.