2008 MENA Economic Developments and Prospects : Regional Integration for Global Competitiveness

2008 MENA Economic Developments and Prospects

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June 30, 2008 - Growth of output was 5.7 percent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during 2007, marking the fifth year in a row that average growth was above 5 percent. While this is impressive in relation to past performance, it is lower than growth achieved in most other parts of the developing world.

To keep up in an increasingly competitive global environment, the region must continue toundertake structural reforms affecting such areas as business climate, trade policy and governance.

The thematic focus of this year’s report is intra-regional integration. This is viewed not just as a set of preferential trade agreements but also as a means to foster the flow of labor, capital and investment.

The report suggests the adoption of a paradigm of open regionalism in which regional preferences would be used as stepping stones towards greater integration with the global economy.

This is the fourth report in a series of annual overviews of the region. MENA 2008 Economic Developments and Prospects, like its predecessors, reports key macroeconomic developments from the regional perspective as well as progress with structural reforms. The aim is to identify the forces shaping economic outcomes in the region and to highlight the key issues that affect the region’s growth prospects.

This year, the thematic chapter focuses on regional integration as seen from a broader perspective that includes trade in goods and services, labor, capital and infrastructure. As was the case with previous year’s publications, we hope that the report will deepen public understanding of the region’s progress, prospects, and challenges.