This issue of the Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia provides an in-depth look at the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region, as well as the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA). Four chapters deal with MENAP oil exporters, MENAP oil importers, policy...

Program implementation continued to be satisfactory despite a somewhat less favorable external environment in 2018. Macroeconomic stability was maintained, external debt to GDP declined, official reserves rose, and some fiscal space was created by strong revenue performance and exceptional...

Given its bulging working-age population, creating more and better jobs is the country's overarching priority. Uzbekistan has already implemented a first wave of important economic reforms, including foreign exchange liberalization, tax reform, and a major upgrade in statistics. Faced with a...

Program implementation has been satisfactory. Macroeconomic stability has been maintained, external debt has been stabilized, and several reforms have been launched to modernize economic institutions and the policy framework. Growth is expected to accelerate this year to 3½ percent, supported...

This Economic Development Document summarizes Mauritania's Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP) for 2016-30. The first five-year phase of the SCAPP will complete projects underway and lay the foundation for a new, politically more peaceful Mauritania, with infrastructure...

The Executive Board approved a two-year Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) arrangement with Morocco in July 2014. The arrangement followed the 2012-14 PLL arrangement, and sought to build on the progress made in the previous two years. The authorities kept their objective of strengthening...

A fragile economy in a complex socio-political environment. Tunisia's political transition advanced, but social discontent remains elevated. After almost stagnating over 2015-16, growth will pick up in 2017 to 2.3 percent helped by tourism and phosphates. Structural deficiencies, an overvalued...

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a bold reform program under Vision 2030. Reform momentum is strong, and good progress is being made in reform implementation. Saudi Arabia has reduced oil production under the OPEC+ agreement. Non-oil growth is expected to pick-up this year, but overall GDP growth...