Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI

2009 MENA-OECD Ministerial Conference

MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Investment for Development

Beyond the Crisis: Business and Citizens at the Centre of Policy Responses

23 November 2009, Marrakech, Morocco

8.30 – 9.00	Registration
	Venue: Palais des Congrès de la Palmeraie, Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco
9.00 – 9.45	Opening session and handover of the MENA-OECD Initiative chairmanship from Egypt to Morocco
	The opening session will be devoted to speeches given by distinguished speakers from the highest authorities of Morocco, Egypt and the OECD. The handover of the Initiative’s chairmanship from Egypt to Morocco will take place in a ceremony that will close the opening session. Address by His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium Address by H.E. Mr. Abbas El Fassi, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Morocco Address by Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD Address by H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minister of Investment, Arab Republic of Egypt Handover ceremony
9.45 – 10.30	Press conference and coffee break
	The chairs of the MENA-OECD Initiative, together with the OECD Secretary-General will participate in a press conference with international media from both MENA and OECD economies.
10.30 – 12.30	Session 1: Policy responses beyond the crisis Moderators: Mrs. Carolyn Ervin, Director, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD and Mr. Rolf Alter, Director, Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development, OECD
	The MENA region has been affected to varying degrees by the recent economic crisis. Dialogue at both local and global levels is essential to making informed policy choices. Close partnerships between MENA and OECD countries, as well as within the MENA region itself, are essential for creating strong economies that are underpinned by viable social systems. Sustained growth and sufficient employment opportunities are particularly important to MENA countries, which have young and dynamic populations. In this session, ministers from MENA and OECD countries will discuss strategic options for overcoming current challenges and reinforcing partnerships to promote better opportunities for the future. Ministerial panel discussion
12.30 – 15.00	LUNCH
15.00 – 17.30	Session 2: Regional reform achievements and the way ahead
	Policy dialogue and peer advice at the regional and multilateral level are important tools for ensuring the sustainability of governance and business climate reforms. In this session, ministers will share reform strategies for building a stronger, cleaner and fairer economy and convene in two separate panels to decide on the future orientation of the MENA-OECD Initiative.
	Ministerial panel A: public governance Chairs: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abbou, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of the Modernisation of the Public Sector, Kingdom of Morocco, and H.E. Mr. Chris Hoornaert, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the OECD	Ministerial panel B: investment and business climate Chairs: H.E. Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Economic and General Affairs, Kingdom of Morocco, and H.E. Mrs. Cristina Narbona Ruiz, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to the OECD
	Presentations: Ministers of Public Governance and Finance, and heads of delegations from MENA and OECD countries For more details, please consult the enclosed agenda for the Ministerial panel A: public governance.	Presentations: Ministers of Economy and Investment, and heads of delegations from MENA and OECD countries For more details, please consult the enclosed agenda for the Ministerial panel B: Investment and business climate.
17.30 – 18.00	COFFEE BREAK
18.00 – 19.00	Session 3: The way forward: presentation and adoption of the Ministerial Declaration
	Ministers and high-level authorities from MENA and OECD countries will convene in this final session to communicate the main conclusions of the conference and call for further development of the MENA-OECD Initiative. Regional policy recommendations on public governance and investment approved by the Ministerial panels will be shared in this plenary session in order to promote synergies and integrate sectoral approaches. The Ministerial Declaration will support continued dialogue between MENA and OECD countries on governance and business climate reform initiatives. Report on Ministerial panel discussions: H.E. Mr. Chris Hoornaert, Ambassador, Delegation of Belgium to the OECD and Co-Chair of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme H.E. Mrs. Cristina Narbona Ruiz, Ambassador, Delegation of Spain to OECD and Co-Chair of the MENA-OECD Investment Programme Presentation of the Ministerial Declaration: H.E. Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Economic and General Affairs, Kingdom of Morocco and Chair of the MENA-OECD Investment Programme H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abbou, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of the Modernisation of the Public Sector, Kingdom of Morocco and Chair of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme
20.00	COCKTAIL RECEPTION

For further information, email:
Contact@mena-ocde.ma