Though the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has weathered the recent global financial and economic crisis relatively well, it still faces daunting medium-term challenges. These include high unemployment (especially among young people), vulnerability to oil and food price shocks and...

The March 24, 2010 ministerial consultation to discuss regional cooperation and integration initiatives for the Arab world was a key milestone in the Arab world initiative, one of the six strategic directions outlined by President Zoellick in October 2007. This important first round of regional...