Morocco Hosts Landmark IMC 2025 as Africa Adopts First-Ever Continental ESG Framework
Marrakech, The Gulf Observer: Morocco reaffirmed its position as Africa’s leading mining jurisdiction as the second edition of the Morocco International Mining Congress & Exhibition (IMC 2025) opened in Marrakech on Monday, marking a historic turning point with the official adoption of the African ESG Framework through the Marrakech Declaration.
Held under the theme “Strategic and critical metals: Morocco, an open industrial and technological hub for regional and global added value,” IMC 2025 brings together ministers, policymakers, mining executives, investors, and industry experts from across Africa and beyond. The event is jointly organised by the Federation of Mineral Industry of Morocco (FDIM) and AME Trade Ltd, with the backing of the Ministry of Energy Transition & Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE).
The Marrakech Declaration underscores Africa’s pivotal role in the global energy and digital transitions, noting that the continent holds many of the minerals most in demand worldwide. It emphasises that the benefits of these strategic and critical resources must primarily serve African economies and populations.
A central message of the declaration is that current global ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards do not adequately reflect African economic structures, regulatory realities or development priorities. To address this gap, African governments, institutions and industry partners have designed a continental ESG framework tailored specifically to Africa’s needs and contexts.
The adopted framework builds on a series of key regional initiatives, including the launch of the OTC-Corridor in December 2024, the Call of Nairobi in July 2025, and the Call of Nouakchott in September 2025—all of which highlighted the urgency of establishing African-defined ESG principles. It also draws from the discussions of the high-level side event “African ESG Framework: Our resources, our future,” held in Marrakech in October 2025 during the World Power-to-X Summit.
With its formal adoption today, the African ESG Framework ushers in a new era of convergence for mineral governance across the continent. It establishes a shared reference for responsible, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable mining practices that respect national sovereignty while supporting regional harmonisation.
The framework aims to enhance Africa’s ability to secure sustainable financing for mining, mineral processing, and industrial projects and to strengthen its position in global critical minerals supply chains.
IMC 2025 continues in Marrakech with high-level dialogues on mining investment, responsible sourcing, industrialisation, and Africa’s growing role in global clean-energy transitions.
