MEFMI convened the 2026 Governors’ Forum virtually on 20 August 2026 from 09:00 to 13:00 CAT under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for Macroeconomic and Financial Policy.”
The Forum brought together Governors, senior policymakers, experts, and partners to exchange experiences and perspectives on the growing role of AI and advanced data analytics in central banking and financial policy.
Discussions examined AI and data analytics from three complementary perspectives: AI in Reserves Management and Business Efficiency; AI and Data Analytics for Policy Design and Risk Management; digital money, payment systems and tokenised assets, together with their implications for macroeconomic and monetary policy.
Participants explored practical applications of AI in applications across forecasting, stress testing, financial stability surveillance, portfolio management and policy communication. The Forum also considered Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, tokenised assets, cross-border payments, and the implications of digital financial innovation for monetary sovereignty and financial stability.
A recurring message throughout the Forum was that AI adoption should respond to clearly defined institutional needs rather than be driven by technology alone. Strong data foundations, appropriate governance, skills, infrastructure and continued human judgement were highlighted as essential to responsible and sustainable implementation. Participants also emphasised the importance of starting with practical, scalable applications and strengthening regional collaboration as institutions move from experimentation towards implementation.
The Forum further highlighted that digital financial innovation is expanding beyond CBDCs to include stablecoins, tokenised assets and increasingly interconnected payment and settlement infrastructure. These developments present significant opportunities while also raising important considerations for monetary policy, financial stability, interoperability, and institutional capacity.
The discussions reaffirmed the value of MEFMI’s Executive Fora as platforms for high-level policy dialogue, peer learning and the exchange of practical experiences on emerging issues affecting member institutions.
MEFMI will publish the 2026 Governors’ Forum Highlights Report in due course, capturing key insights, lessons, and practical takeaways from the Forum.
By Zinhle Mkhari
