Echoes of Inclusion: MENA Leaders Deliberate Strategies for Equitable Economic Growth
Esteemed economists and policymakers from the Middle East and North Africa convened in Cairo this week to formulate plans aimed at promoting inclusive development within the region. This high-level seminar sought to build upon the momentum generated during last fall's "Call for Action," issued at the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF in Marrakech, where leaders advocated for "higher, more inclusive, and private sector-led growth" in the MENA region.
During the opening session, IMF officials emphasized that the Cairo event would initiate "engagement with regional stakeholders to implement the Marrakech call." One of the stated goals was to deliberate on "how to make progress on the call's five pillars," which include strengthening entrepreneurship, reforming social welfare, empowering youth, enabling women's participation, and leveraging green technologies.
Various panels provided a platform for candid dialogue on translating these aspirational goals into tangible policies. Representatives from government, business, and civil society explored practical recommendations for overhauling outdated systems that have often marginalized entire segments of societies. While acknowledging the challenges, participants expressed optimism that with coordinated efforts, MENA nations could construct "more resilient economies and a new social contract" better suited to the demands of the 21st-century global marketplace.
The seminar marks a crucial initial step in bridging the gap "between past growth models and future engines of job creation and prosperity," organizers highlighted. Ongoing collaboration will be pivotal in ensuring that the inclusive, private sector-led transformation envisioned in Marrakech ultimately becomes a reality across the MENA region.