In June 2022, Libya participated in the annual MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) in Istanbul, Turkey. Under the theme “From recovery to economic resilience: strategies for the private sector”, the 2022 BAB focused on the private sector’s role to promote more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economies in the MENA region, in a context defined by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic and social implications of Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine.

Discussions covered three thematic priorities: i) challenges and opportunities to advance economic resilience in the region ii) accelerating the digital transformation iii) promoting the green transition. A special ideas factory session was dedicated to discussing innovative approaches to boosting job creation and entrepreneurship as well as facilitating trade and investment in the region.

The gathering benefited from the participation of governments, business associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organisations representing 9 MENA economies and 6 OECD countries, as well as regional and international institutions.

Throughout the meeting, participants acknowledged the importance of public-private dialogue as an essential mechanism for effective policy design and implementation of reforms. Participants stressed the importance of following considerations: Contributing to foster regional integration, achieving transformation toward digital and green, advocating for a more market oriented regulatory framework, encouraging governments to address the root causes of inflation, developing targeted capacity building programmes for youth and women, and make use of OECD standards and good practices in the area of access to finance and financial education.

Representatives from Libya had previously participated to the MENA-OECD Forum and Ministerial Conference on “Designing a Roadmap to Recovery in MENA” in April 2021. Libyan stakeholders attended virtually and focused on strategies to ensure an inclusive and resilient post-COVID-19 recovery.

Founded in 2017, the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) provides a structured and well-informed platform for private sector mobilisation in the MENA region. Co-chaired by the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organisation (CEOE) and the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), the BAB creates reform coalitions between governments and the business community, fostering Public-Private Dialogue.