“My hope is that young people in the region can turn a vicious circle into a virtuous one. We need more empowerment followed by inclusive growth.”

 

This was stated by Minister for Finance Professor Edward Scicluna at the High-Level Conference on “Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future”, focussing on opportunities and challenges facing the region, held in Doha, Qatar on the 12 and 13 November 2019 and organised by UCLA CMED in conjunction with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The plenary keynote speakers included the Qatari Minister for Finance Ali Shareef Al Emadi, the former President of Malawi HE Joyce Banda, the Maltese Minister for Finance, and Hami Findakli of Potomac Capital. The panel was moderated by Professor Steven Spiegel of UCLA CMED.

During his intervention at the Plenary Session of the Conference, Minister stressed that the riots by young people in the region and all over the world is a new phenomenon, which cannot be sidestepped. He underlined the importance of governments to create job opportunities and ensure employment for the young generation, once they are out of formal education.

“We must strive to achieve more inclusive growth,” Prof Scicluna concluded his intervention.

On the margins of the conference, Minister Scicluna met with various Ministers and high officials from the Middle East and MENA region, and various experts coming from within and outside the region.

 

13th November 2019