Policy Implications and Recommendations

Most of the developing countries in the MENA region face still face a number of social, political and economic challenges. The countries in the MENA region range in economic development from factor-driven (Iran) to efficiency-driven (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia) to innovation-driven (Qatar and the UAE) but almost all face problems with job creation, low education and skills levels (especially among women), gender inequality and innovation technologies. These problems exist mainly in the underdeveloped SME sector, as many of the larger organizations have achieved international status and a high degree of competitiveness. Unemployment rates, especially among women and the youth, remain unacceptably high, especially in areas outside of the public sectors. The private sector is not providing the employment that should be expected.