Working Groups

The Investment Programme is developed and implemented by the 5 working groups under the supervision of the Steering Group in close co-ordination with the country economic teams. The working groups are based on the principle of leadership of countries in the region, exercised through a MENA government taking charge of each working group, along with a co-chair from an OECD country. Officials and experts from OECD countries are expected to participate actively in the working groups. The working groups are open to all countries although the composition of each group will vary depending on the interest, capacity, and commitment of individual MENA countries:

Working Group 1 Investment policy and promotion

Working Group 2 SME policy, entrepreneurship and human capital development

Working Group 3 Tax policy and administration

Working Group 4 Financial sector development and economic diversification

Working Group 5 Corporate governance

Each programme focuses on concrete actions and time-bound results, combined with an on-going monitoring and support system, involving:

• stocktaking of the current reform efforts in MENA countries
• development of country action plans
• monitoring the implementation of policy reforms

This could ultimately allow the introduction of peer reviews among the MENA countries.