The International Monetary Fund (IMF), Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development (AFESD) and Government of Morocco will co-host a high-level conference in Marrakesh, January 29–30, 2018, on promoting higher economic growth, job creation, and inclusiveness in the Arab World.

Opportunities for All: Promoting Growth, Jobs, and Inclusiveness in the Arab World will bring together high-level policy makers, corporate executives, academics, youth, media and civil society representatives from countries in the Arab World and beyond to exchange their experiences, lessons and ideas on how to create millions of jobs by exploiting new sources and sectors of growth. Building on the 2014 Amman conference “Building the Future” which highlighted the need for growth to generate jobs and for its benefits to be shared more widely, the 2018 conference aims to move the dial on discussions on inclusive growth in the Arab World from endorsement to implementation.

Key topics to be discussed at the conference will include: how to scale-up opportunities for women and youth by promoting entrepreneurship and innovation; embracing transparency and technology to unlock the region’s potential; and designing government policies that act as enablers of higher and more inclusive growth.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, AFESD Director General Chairman of the Board Abdlatif Y. Al-Hamad, and AMF Director General Chairman of the Board Abdulrahman Al Hamidy will be among the conference speakers.

Attendance at the conference will be by invitation. The proceedings will be streamed live, and portions will be broadcast by regional and local broadcasters. As part of the conference, young people from around the region will be invited to participate in a youth contest on innovation in September 2017.