Following two days of discussions and expert analysis, the inaugural IMF MENA Economic Annual Research Conference concluded with a call for coordinated policy responses to economic challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. The event, held on May 18–19, 2025, was co-organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the American University in Cairo (AUC). It aimed to advance research tailored to regional realities and marked a collaboration between the IMF and a leading university in the region.
Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, highlighted trade tensions, global uncertainty, regional conflicts, and climate risks as complexities facing MENA policymakers. He emphasized building a platform for dialogue that connects MENA with research centers for reliable analysis. “We are deeply grateful to President Ahmad Dallal and AUC for their commitment to fostering dialogue, research, and policy innovation in the region,” he stated.
AUC President Ahmad Dallal described the event as vital for collaboration among governments, academia, and the private sector. "This is about generating ideas that are globally informed but deeply rooted in the realities of our region," he noted.
The conference theme was “Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape.” Discussions focused on institutional reforms, cross-border cooperation, investment in skills and innovation, with an emphasis on embedding policy in local realities.
Participants included prominent academics, economists, government officials from across the region such as Rania El Mashat from Egypt's Ministry of Planning; Youssef Boutros-Ghali from Egypt's Specialized Council for Economic Development; Mahmoud Mohieldin from the United Nations; and Martin Galstyan from Armenia's Central Bank.
Nigel Clarke, IMF Deputy Managing Director said: "This conference is a milestone demonstrating the IMF's commitment to deepening engagement with the research and academic community."
For more details or to rewatch discussions from Day 1 and Day 2 of the conference visit its website.
Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo is an English-language institution accredited both in Egypt and the United States. It offers various undergraduate and graduate programs based on liberal arts education.