Agenda IMF Seminars, Conferences, and Workshops |
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Region: The Challenges of Growth and Globalization Conference organized by the IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department and the IMF Institute Washington, DC, April 7–8, 2004 International Monetary Fund Meeting Halls A and B In order to stimulate high-level policy debate on some of the economic challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the period ahead, the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department and the IMF Institute will be hosting a Conference on "The Middle East and North Africa Region: The Challenges of Growth and Globalization" at IMF Headquarters during April 7-8, 2004. The conference will bring together officials and experts from central banks, governments, academic institutions, and regional and international organizations, both from within and outside the region. Some of the issues the conference will address include:
Attendance at the conference is by invitation only. For further information please contact INSINFO@imf.org |
Agenda |
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Wednesday, April 7
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9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. | Introduction/Welcome George T. Abed, Special Advisor to the Managing Director, IMF Opening Remarks Agustin G. Carstens, Deputy Managing Director, IMF |
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9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Session I: The Challenge of Growth Chair: Mohsin S. Khan, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF |
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9:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m. | 1. | Paper on "Some Lessons from the Recent Empirical Growth Literature" Presenter: Xavier Sala-i-Martin, Professor of Economics, Columbia University Discussant: Paul Cashin, Senior Economist, Western Hemisphere Department, IMF General Discussion |
10:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m. | Coffee break | |
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 2. | Paper on "Determinants of Growth in the MENA Region: An Overview" Presenters: George T. Abed and Hamid R. Davoodi, Senior Economist, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF Discussant: Mahmoud Mohieddin, Professor of Economics, Cairo University General Discussion |
12:45 p.m.–2:15 p.m. | Lunch break | |
2:15 p.m.–5:15 p.m. | Session II: The Role of the Public Sector Chair: Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Minister of Privatization, Pakistan |
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2:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | 1. |
Paper on "Economic and Political Liberalizations"
Presenter: Guido
Tabellini, Professor of Economics, IGIER, Bocconi University |
3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Coffee break | |
4:00 p.m.–5:15 p.m. | 2. | Paper on "Institutions and the Public Sector in Reforming the Public Finances in the MENA Countries" Presenter: Ehtisham Ahmad, Division Chief, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF Discussant: Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist, South Asia Regional Office, World Bank General Discussion |
Thursday, April 8 |
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9:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. | Session III: The Role of the Financial Sector Chair: Tomás J.T. Baliño, Deputy Director, Monetary and Financial Systems Department, IMF |
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9:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m. | 1. | Paper on "The Financial Sector and Growth: An Overview" Presenter: Ross Levine, Professor of Finance, University of Minnesota Discussant: Abdelhak Senhadji, Senior Economist, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF General Discussion |
10:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m. | Coffee break | |
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 2. | Paper on "Financial Sector Development in the Middle East and North Africa" Presenter: Rishi Goyal, Economist, Monetary and Financial Systems Department, IMF Discussant: Nasser Saidi, Saidi and Associates General Discussion |
12:45 p.m.–2:15 p.m. | Lunch break | |
2:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Session IV: Global Integration of the MENA Countries Chair: Saleh M. Nsouli, Deputy Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF |
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1. | Paper on "Trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Development in the Middle East and North Africa" Presenter: Mustapha Nabli, Chief Economist, Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, World Bank Discussant: Hans Peter Lankes, Division Chief, Policy Development and Review Department, IMF General Discussion | |
3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Coffee break | |
4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Concluding Session | |
George T. Abed, Special Advisor to the Managing Director, IMF | ||
Christiaan Poortman, Vice President, Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, World Bank | ||
Mohsin S. Khan, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF |