FIAS works in a challenging geopolitical environment to deliver much-needed reforms to the MENA region.

To boost private investment (both domestic and foreign), the countries in the MENA region have to implement far-reaching reforms to improve the business environment, including fostering governance and transparency, adopting more open investment policies, restructuring the public sector, liberalizing services and utilities, tackling labor market issues, removing non-tariff barriers to trade, modernizing physical infrastructure, and investing in education and training. The association agreements that some of the MENA countries (particularly in the Maghreb) have concluded with the European Union and the process of acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) have given much-needed momentum to address some of these policy issues, notably in the trade area. But much remains to be done, and FIAS is providing specialized advisory and technical assistance to support the reform efforts, in close coordination and collaboration with the World Bank and IFC (through its PEP-MENA facility).

Examples:
1) FIAS continues to be very active in Egypt. In July 2005, FIAS submitted a comprehensive review of Administrative Barriers to Investment that complemented the Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) carried out by the World Bank. The FIAS report is actively being used by the investment authority of Egypt (GAFI) to simplify the procedural environment, including with PEP-MENA in Alexandria, Egypt. Also prepared, through the World Bank’s MENA region, was a report on “Free Zones in Egypt: Strategic Recommendations” for the Ministry of Investment.

2) In Syria, an updated Diagnostic of the Investment Climate (March 2006) was carried out and FIAS participated in a UNDP-led workshop on Business Regulation Reform. In addition, plans were made to assist the authorities in upgrading its investment legislation, as a continuation of our 2004 review of the Investment Law.

Past Projects:

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For more information about the region, please contact the Regional Program Coordinator, Xavier Forneris.