Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policy for Development
FromMay 13, 2026 To May 13, 2026
Online Webinar
The Economic Research Forum (ERF) is organizing a webinar to discuss the report “Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policy for Development” produced by the Office of the Chief Economist for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) at the World Bank.
This latest MENAAP Economic Update examines the profound human and economic toll of conflict in the region. Ongoing hostilities have severely disrupted energy supply routes, damaged infrastructure, and heightened financial volatility, significantly weakening the regional growth outlook. Overall growth in MENAAP is projected to slow from 4.0 percent in 2025 to 1.8 percent in 2026 — 2.4 percentage points below earlier projections — with the sharpest declines concentrated in Gulf Cooperation Council economies and Iraq. A prolonged conflict risks further eroding trade, tourism, and remittances, while intensifying fiscal pressures and displacement across the region.
The report also explores the role of industrial policy as a tool for long-term development, finding that results across the region have been mixed and that success depends critically on strong institutions, careful targeting, and alignment with country capabilities. It calls on governments to strengthen governance, build more resilient economies, and foster private sector dynamism to support sustainable growth and job creation.
Agenda
Date
13/05/2026
Location
Online Webinar
Time
From 4:00 pm To 5:00 pm
Speakers
Research Fellows
Raed Safadi
Managing Director Designate, ERF
Speakers
Roberta V. Gatti
Chief Economist, Middle East and North Africa,...
Speakers
Federico Bennett
Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for...
Speakers
Sumin Chun
Economist (ETC), Office of the Chief Economist...
Research Fellows
Amirah El-Haddad
Senior Researcher, Department Transformation of Economic and...
Research Fellows
Izak Atiyas
Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Sabanci University