On 20 May 2021, Hon. Maryam Majid Bin Theneya (United Arab Emirates) represented the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) at the third meeting of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Chapter of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF.
The event gathered high-level experts from the World Bank and the IMF together with MPs from the MENA region and representatives from international Parliaments. The discussion focused on legislative strategies to build an inclusive and sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic in Middle Eastern and North African countries.
The debates offered a unique opportunity for parliamentarians to engage with key policy experts on the manifold facets of economic reconstruction plans, including vaccine campaigns, governance reforms, financial resilience, and climate action.
In her presentation, Hon. Bin Theneya recalled the severe pressure that the ongoing health crisis is placing on countries’ socio-economic and financial stability in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions. Against this backdrop, she stressed the role of interparliamentary cooperation in facilitating the exchange of best practices and policy solutions to mitigate the costs of the pandemic and relaunch the regional economy.
Hon. Bin Theneya underlined three key policy areas to deliver inclusive and sustainable recovery plans: the protection and rehabilitation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the revival of the tourism industry, and the transition towards climate neutrality. To reinforce the national efforts of Member States in these strategic fields, PAM promotes public-private partnerships and facilitating access to alternative capital markets for SMEs and enterprises, including those engaged in the tourism sector. Moreover, the Assembly supports Member Parliaments in leveraging their legislative and oversight roles to advance stimulus packages based on innovation, circularity, and decarbonisation.
In her conclusions, Hon. Bin Theneya highlighted the role of PAM as a key platform to improve dialogue and collaboration between parliamentarians and experts to bolster science-based recovery strategies.