IMF discusses Mena region’s post-pandemic progress, policies

IMF discusses Mena region’s post-pandemic progress, policies

Staff Reporter, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) hosted an expert discussion on the state of recovery in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, in tandem with the launch of its annual Middle East & Central Asia Regional Economic Outlook report. The report outlines the region’s post-pandemic progress and the policies that can help secure a more sustainable, inclusive recovery. The discussion, moderated by CNN’s Becky Anderson, brought together Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises, Sherif Kamel, Dean of the American University in Cairo School of Business, and Monica Malek, Chief Economist of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Several countries across the region, primarily in the Gulf Region, have made significant strides, but progress has been inconsistent. Jihad Azour explained, “Since the beginning of this year, the Mena region has made good progress and the recovery is ongoing despite the new outbreaks. Yet, the recovery is uneven and incomplete, with new challenges emerging, such as rising inflation and inequities. Countries with higher vaccination rates, less dependence on tourism, and more policy space will recover more quickly and experience less scarring in the longer term. Oil exporters