Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Monetary Fund: 2018 Year of Transitions

[yota691]

Regional Director for the Middle East at the International Monetary Fund: 2018 Year of Transitions

 

 Since 2017-12-13 at 13:48 (Baghdad time)

Follow up of Mawazine News

The Middle East and Central Asia Regional Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that 2018 would be the year of transformation, expecting the world to witness economic growth of 3.7%.

Jihad Azour stressed in a lecture at the Arab Strategy Forum, Mawazine News, that the policy of closure is an obstacle to any opportunity to achieve stability and growth, stressing that it is the most important challenges to global growth in the coming year.

"The Arab economy has witnessed a wide range of challenges over the last decade," said the IMF's Regional Director for the Middle East and Central Asia.

Azour explained that the most prominent of these challenges, the global financial crisis and the sharp decline in oil prices, noting that despite the challenges, the Arab region has maintained its economic stability.

Azour shortened the main challenges facing the Arab world economically in 2018 with four: adapting to the post-oil phase to build a new economy, structural reforms, and reducing the impact of conflicts.

Azour added that the geopolitical situation negatively affects economic growth. The fourth challenge is to support institutions and fight waste and corruption.

"There is a need to provide 16 million jobs over the next five years to reduce the unemployment gap," Azour said.

Jihad Azour stressed that the cost of the Arab Spring and the crisis in Qatar did not affect the region as much as the global financial crisis and the change in oil prices.

This came during the first session of the Arab Strategic Forum, which opened on Tuesday, December 12, in the Emirate of Dubai with a session entitled "The State of the Arab World economically in 2018"

The tenth session of the forum will be attended by a group of world leaders, experts and thinkers to discuss the most pressing economic and geopolitical issues at the regional and international levels.

[skeetdog]

Thanks Yota...It doesn't get any planer than this...And just think OPEC has an old member rejoining the gang...wonder how much their currency projection can be set ".@@@"......

[yota691]

International Monetary Fund expects further economic shifts in 2018

 

Economy News _ Baghdad   The Middle East and Central Asia Regional Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted Wednesday that 2018 will be the year of transformation, expecting the world to witness economic growth of 3.7%.  At the Arab Strategy Forum, Jihad Azour stressed that the policy of closure is an obstacle to any chance of achieving stability and growth, stressing that it is the most important challenges to global growth in the coming year.  He added that the Arab economy has witnessed a wide range of challenges over the past decade.  Azour explained that the most prominent of these challenges, the global financial crisis and the sharp decline in oil prices, noting that despite the challenges, the Arab region has maintained its economic stability.  Azour shortened the main challenges facing the Arab world economically in 2018. Four are to adapt to the post-oil phase of building a new economy, structural reforms and reducing the impact of conflicts.  "There is a need to provide 16 million jobs over the next five years to reduce the unemployment gap," he said.  The tenth session of the forum will be attended by a group of world leaders, experts and thinkers to discuss the most pressing economic and geopolitical issues at the regional and international levels. "       Views 27   Date Added 13/12/2017

[cutter73]

4 hours ago, skeetdog said:

Thanks Yota...It doesn't get any planer than this...And just think OPEC has an old member rejoining the gang...wonder how much their currency projection can be set ".@@@"......

Agreed...Thanks Yota...waiting...hopefully our next chapter is that start of great things!

[Laid Back]

Iraq transition will be from exchange control economy to an open market economy.

 

 

Go end of MCP

Go mew monetary policy 

Go RV

Go open market economy 

 

[Reez]

Perhaps Iraq is preparing for this,to be recognized & be part of this event of the year for Middle East country. Christine Lagarde will also act as moderator.

 

Link :

 

http://www.imf.org/en/News/Seminars/Conferences/2017/08/08/morocco-opportunities-for-all

 

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Opportunity for All: Promoting Growth, Jobs, and Inclusiveness in the Arab World

Marrakesh, Morocco

January 29-30, 2018

Following up on the 2014 Amman conference "Building the Future: Jobs, Growth, & Fairness in the Arab World,” the Morocco conference aims to move the dial on discussions on inclusive growth in the Arab world from endorsement to execution. Participants from across the region's public, private, and non-official spheres will exchange their experiences and lessons on how to create more jobs by exploiting new sources of growth. They will address how to scale up opportunities for women, and youth and promote entrepreneurship and innovation while embracing transparency and technology to unlock the region's potential.

AY 1Y 2 - TENTATIVE AGENDA

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Day 1 - Tentative Agenda

Day 1 (Monday, January 29, 2018) is dedicated to Innovation Labs. The objective of these labs is to solicit stakeholders’ experience with impediments to growth and inclusiveness and to brainstorm on possible solutions and policy issues to be raised at the plenary sessions the following day and inform the conference press statement.

1:00 pm	Welcome Remarks by Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department
1:30 pm	Innovation Lab 1: Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Arab World   Chair: (TBC) Inspirational Speaker: Lubna Suliman Olayan, Chairperson, Olayan Financing Group
1:30 pm	Innovation Lab 2: Making Transparency Work for Inclusive Growth     Chair: Pierre Heilbronn, Vice President, Policy and Partnerships, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Inspirational Speaker: Olfa Shoukri Cherif, Member of Parliament, Tunisia Moderator/Rapporteur: Sawsan Gharaibeh, Co-founder and Vice Chairperson, Rasheed
3:00 pm	Coffee Break / Innovation Booth – Youth Presentation
3:30 pm	Innovation Lab 3: Creating Opportunities and Institutions in Conflict/Fragility   Chair: (TBC) Inspirational Speaker: Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director, Arab NGO Network for Development
3:30 pm	Innovation Lab 4: Leveraging Technology for Higher Growth and Opportunities   Chair: Ahmed Abdulkarim Alkholifey, Governor, Central Bank of Saudi Arabia    Inspirational Speaker: Khalid Alkhudair, Founder, Glowork.net
5:00 pm	Coffee Break / Innovation Booth – Youth Presentation
5:30 pm	Presentation of Findings of Innovation Labs
7:00 pm	Reception
8:30 pm	Welcome Dinner, Remarks by the Heads of the Arab Monetary Fund and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and Presentation of Youth Competition Prizes

 

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Day 2 - Tentative Agenda

Day 2 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018) features three plenary sessions, a luncheon conversation, and a concluding high-level panel. The objective of these discussions is to share reform experiences, engage on issues raised by the innovation labs to develop views on practical solutions to overcome hurdles to implementation of inclusive growth policies. To encourage greater interaction, innovation booths will showcase young innovators during the coffee breaks.

9:00 am	Opening Remarks     Saad Eddine El Otmani, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Morocco Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
9:30 am	Plenary 1: Creating Jobs for Millions in the Arab World   Millions of youth will join the labor market over the next five years. This session will discuss “how” countries can generate jobs to absorb these new entrants by tapping into new sources and sectors of growth and how government can be an “enabler” in this process. Potential issues to be discussed include: how small and medium-sized enterprises can flourish on a broader scale; creating MENA’s Silicon Valley; plugging the Arab world into global value chains; revamping education to prepare youth for jobs.   Panelists: • Fadi Ghandour, Chairman and CEO, Wamda Capital, Jordan • Sherif Kamel, Vice President for Information Management and Professor of Management, American University in Cairo • Ibrahim Manna, Managing Director of Emerging Markets, Careem   Moderator: Lara Habib, Senior Business News Presenter, Al Arabiya
10:45 am	Coffee Break / Innovation Booth – Youth Presentation
11:15 am	Plenary 2: Scaling Up Inclusion and Opportunities in the Arab World   The session focuses on how to scale up economic opportunities for youth, women, and refugees—to drive growth and ensure its benefits are widely distributed. Potential issues for discussion include: how can Fintech promote financial access by youth, women and small and medium-sized enterprises; what is needed to empower women and enable their participation in the labor market; how can well-targeted social safety nets protect the vulnerable and empower them; and how can countries in conflict confront the challenges of youth employment and skills development.   Panelists:   • Rafat Ali Al-Akhali, CEO, Resonate! Yemen Foundation, Yemen • Janet Heckman, Managing Director for Southern & Eastern Asia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development • Ashraf Sabry, Founder and CEO, Fawry Mobile Banking, Egypt • Ghada Fathi Waly, Minister of Social Solidary, Egypt   Moderator: Faïçal Tadlaoui, Journalist, TV and Radio Host and Producer, Atlantic Radio & Medi1 TV, Morocco
1:15 pm	Conversation with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Arab Women’s Empowerment     • Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, President, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates • Hanan Ashrawi, Legislator, Palestinian Activist and Scholar • Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, President, Moroccan Confederation of Businesses • Samar Samir Mezghanni, Tunisian Author and Advocate for Youth Empowerment
2:15 pm	Coffee Break / Innovation Booth – Youth Presentation
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm	Address: Youssef Chahed, Prime Minister, Tunisia
3:00 pm	Plenary 3: Government as Enabler for Inclusive Growth   This session discusses how governments can re-direct their policies and budgets to foster private sector activity and promote greater inclusiveness. Potential issues for discussion include what governments can do to: prepare youth for work via smarter education spending; build infrastructure for growth and trade; design pro-growth and fair revenue sources; improve transparency and accountability; and ensure adequate social protection.   Panelists: • Ali Al-Ghezawi, Minister of Labor, Jordan • Manar Al Moneef, CEO, Renewable Energy, MENAT, General Electric, Saudi Arabia • Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor, Central Bank of Morocco • Taoufik Rajhi, Minister of Major Reforms, Tunisia     Moderator: Lubna Bouza, Acting Chief Editor, Business News, Sky News Arabia
4:00 pm	Coffee Break / ICD / METAC Presentation
4:30 pm	Closing Panel: Shared Responsibility for Inclusive Growth   Panelists:   Moderator: Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund • Abdlatif Y. Al-Hamad, Chairman, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development • Abdulrahman A. Al-Hamidy, Director General and Chairman of the Board, Arab Monetary Fund • Tarek Amer, Governor, Central Bank of Egypt • Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco
7:00 pm	Closing Dinner and Cultural Show

Conference Partners

Edited December 14, 2017 by Reez