Launch of the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB)

20-21 September, 2018 Madrid, Spain

The MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme launched the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB), a dedicated regional platform for public-private dialogue. The purpose of the BAB is to mobilise leading business associations, chambers of commerce and other private sector networks, as well as regional organisations, academic and research institutions, in an effort to maximise the relevance and impact of public-private dialogue across the region. The BAB is co-chaired by the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organisation (CEOE) and the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA).

Nearly 200 participants joined the launch, including representatives from the public and private sector from eleven Middle East and North Africa countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Yemen), as well as OECD countries (France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Portugal and Spain), and regional organisations (Businessmed, CIPE, Union for the Mediterranean).

Key takeaways from the launch:

Multi-stakeholder communication and public-private dialogue are crucial to enhance economic policy
‌Leadership and commitment are a prerequisite for PPD initiatives to achieve results
‌PPD initiatives need to involve those who are typically left behind, including women and youth
‌Business linkages can help to overcome existing barriers and differences in culture

Read the conclusions

Access the BAB launch Flickr album.

MEETING DOCUMENTS & FURTHER READING

Agenda
Strategic note: English | Arabic
Background note
Meeting conclusions
The MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme