Office of International Affairs

Broader Middle East & North Africa Initiative Finance Ministerial

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In June 2004, Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) countries meeting in Sea Island, Georgia, established a "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future" with countries of the broader Middle East and North Africa to support efforts to advance freedom, democracy, and prosperity in the region.

As part of this initiative, Finance Ministers from the G8 and the broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA) launched the G8-BMENA Finance Ministerial process. Building on the momentum created at their first meeting as a group in September 2003, this group has met every six months to discuss policy reforms and to launch specific initiatives to foster economic growth and job creation in the BMENA region. Efforts have focused on promoting access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises, expanding microfinance, coordinating on development projects, strengthening financial sector regulation, and improving the private sector investment climate.

Please contact Malachy Nugent, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa, for more information.

Other Resources

• International Finance Corporation Private Enterprise Partnership - Middle East and North Africa (PEP-MENA)
• Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP)
• Partnership for Financial Excellence (PFE)

Last Updated: March 5, 2009