Forward Thinking hold conference with EBRD and AfDB, London 21-22 March

Forward Thinking, in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), held a two-day conference titled "Empowering the Private Sector in the Southern Mediterranean," at the headquarters of the EBRD in London.The current socio-political transition of the MENA region, which is underpinned by a widespread public recognition of the need for a change, provides a unique opportunity to embark on reforms to support a vibrant, competitive, and entrepreneurial private sector.Accordingly, the conference was aimed at providing a forum for local policymakers to exchange views on the current impediments to the private sector in the region and discuss policy options for unleashing the potential of the private sector.The conference was attended by delegations from Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, which were comprised of senior politicians, civil society actors and figures from the business community. The delegations met with representatives from the EBRD and AfDB and held a frank discussion on the economic challenges, and opportunities, currently facing North Africa. Job creation and reforming energy subsidies were central to the discussion, which also covered issues such as Islamic finance, the importance of supporting SMEs and the vital need to invest in infrastructure.