UAE Business: Policies key to post-pandemic recovery in Mena: IMF – Gulf Digital News

UAE Business: Policies key to post-pandemic recovery in Mena: IMF – Gulf Digital News

The Mena region’s post-pandemic progress and the policies that can help secure a more sustainable, inclusive recovery, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a new report.



The Middle East & Central Asia Regional Economic Outlook report was launched during an expert discussion on the state of recovery in Mena region hosted by the IMF.



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 said: “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 will benefit from higher oil prices.”



Although vaccine roll out has