MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme

Under the mandate of the 2021 Ministerial Declaration, the Programme supports policy reforms aimed at mobilising investment, enhancing private sector development, and fostering entrepreneurship as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth. With a strong emphasis on the potential of the region’s increasingly skilled youth and women, the Programme continues to play a vital role in shaping economic transformation across MENA.

As the MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme enters its third decade, its work is as pertinent as ever. The OECD and MENA economies continue to navigate global challenges, and the Programme remains a crucial platform for fostering economic resilience, innovation, and sustainable development. Through ongoing collaboration, it reinforces the region’s ability to attract investment, generate employment, and create opportunities for future generations.

Established at the request of MENA governments in 2005, the Programme has been a pillar of economic cooperation for two decades. Currently co-chaired by Türkiye and Tunisia, it operates through high-level ministerial meetings that set strategic priorities and an annual Steering Group that monitors progress.

The Programme engages 18 economies: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

To effectively support economic reforms and policy implementation, the Programme employs a dual-track approach:

• Regional policy dialogues spanning six key work streams.

• Tailored country-specific projects, including a dedicated Country Programme with Egypt and bilateral initiatives with Morocco and Saudi Arabia.