The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University will convene the second annual MENA Research Conference on June 29-30 in Rabat, bringing together policymakers, academics and economists to examine the region’s economic outlook amid global uncertainty.
The conference, titled “Rethinking MENA Integration in a Fast-Changing Global Environment,” will focus on how global trade fragmentation, technological change and artificial intelligence are reshaping economic prospects across the Middle East and North Africa.
Organisers said discussions will also cover the role of monetary, fiscal and labour market policies in supporting macroeconomic stability and long-term growth in a rapidly evolving global economy.
In a joint statement, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Executive Vice-President Karim El Aynaoui said the region faces mounting economic pressures linked to geopolitical tensions and structural global shifts.
“The war in the Middle East threatens to leave lasting scars on the region’s economic trajectory,” they said, adding that the shock is forcing countries to reassess development strategies amid an already complex global environment.
More Read
They noted that rising technological disruption and shifts in global trade patterns are adding further uncertainty for policymakers across the region.
The IMF said its engagement with the MENA region is aimed at supporting member countries in maintaining macroeconomic stability, strengthening resilience and advancing structural reforms to improve living standards.
It said the annual conference provides a platform for research collaboration between academics and policymakers, while helping to strengthen analytical capacity in ministries of finance and central banks across the region.
The event builds on the inaugural edition held in 2025 in partnership with the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo.
Organisers said the conference series is designed to foster dialogue between researchers and policymakers on major regional and global economic issues, while promoting evidence-based policy formulation.
The IMF added that strengthening research capacity is critical for governments in the region as they navigate rising debt pressures, slower global growth and increasing economic fragmentation.
Participants in this year’s edition are expected to explore policy responses to external shocks, labour market challenges and digital transformation, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence on productivity and employment.
The conference comes at a time when several MENA economies are pursuing reforms aimed at diversifying growth away from hydrocarbons, improving fiscal sustainability and attracting foreign investment.
Analysts say the discussions in Rabat are likely to feed into broader IMF policy advice for the region, particularly as governments grapple with inflationary pressures and uneven growth recovery following recent global shocks.
More Read
The IMF said the conference series is intended to serve as a long-term platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building, linking academic research with practical policymaking across the region.
