The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to hold its inaugural annual Economic Research Conference for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on May 18-19, 2025, in Cairo. The announcement was made by Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, and Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department of the IMF.
According to the IMF officials, "Global shocks are adding to regional factors resulting in an exceptionally uncertain economic environment for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies.” They indicated that economic challenges such as conflicts, trade tensions, and volatile commodity prices are shaping the region's economic landscape. Nevertheless, they suggest that these challenges also present opportunities for reforms that could improve macroeconomic stability and resilience.
The conference, titled "Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in A Shifting Global Economic Landscape," will be co-organized with the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo. It aims to serve as a forum for discussing pressing economic issues and promoting policy-oriented research specific to the MENA region. The event will feature presentations and panels with contributions from leading economists and policymakers.
The IMF has maintained a partnership with MENA countries, aiming to facilitate more inclusive and resilient growth. The "IMF-MENA Annual Research Conference is another step forward to further strengthen that partnership and engagement with the region and its people,” the statement noted.
The detailed agenda and further information about the conference are made available by the IMF.