The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) accounts for a large share of the world’s petroleum production and exports.

But despite the region’s natural wealth, years of conflict and turmoil have triggered many political and economic challenges: from the Arab Spring to civil wars in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen; from the fragile economies of Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, is there hope for the economies in the region? And how can they find a way forward? We speak to Ferid Belhaj, the World Bank vice president for the MENA region.

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