Jordan, IMF to host regional conference in Amman

AMMAN – Over 200 policy makers, representatives of the private sector and civil society, and academia from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will convene in Amman on May 11 to discuss challenges and opportunities of economic transformation in Arab countries in transition. 

According to a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the two-day conference will be hosted by the government, IMF and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). 

The statement indicated that participants will include Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, AFESD Director General Abdulatif Al Hamad and other high-level participants from the region.

The conference, titled “Building the Future: Jobs, Growth, and Fairness in the Arab World” will address four related issues: macroeconomic policies for stability and inclusive growth; transparency and governance; business climate; and youth employment, said the IMF statement, adding that participants will discuss policies that can lead to better job creation, equity and growth in the region. 

“I am looking forward to constructive discussions on forming economic visions for this important region,” Lagarde said.

“The Amman conference will provide an open forum for the region’s top policy representatives and other stakeholders to discuss strategies to generate the strong and inclusive growth required to reduce unemployment, especially among the young, and raise standards of living across the Arab world,” she added.

Participants will have the opportunity to draw lessons from other regions with similar experience of fundamentally transforming their economies, the statement said.