AMMAN — The
World Bank is particularly concerned in the Middle East and North Africa region about Lebanon
and Tunisia and, to a lesser extent, Egypt and Jordan, the bank's vice
president for MENA said on Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
"We have a number of
tensions in those countries," including debt levels and high inflation,
Ferid Belhaj said on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai,
according to Reuters.
"The role of the state in
the economy, generally in MENA, has always been a matter of concern for us,"
he said, adding there was "a chunk" of public debt that is not
disclosed, referring to debts of state-owned enterprises.
"And we are advocating that
transparency because that's the only way you can start reforming — you need to
have your books clear in front of you," Belhaj said.
In Tunisia, he said a drive for
reform was "moving forward, but slower than what we wish it to be."
While Lebanon has long had high
levels of public debt, it is becoming "extremely problematic," Belhaj
said.
"People are feeling the
brunt of the almost-collapse of the financial sector," he said, adding
Lebanon "is really one of those places that, as they say, keeps you awake
at night."
The World Bank has already
committed $900 million to Egypt this fiscal year through June, and "will
see how things go — we may commit more," Belhaj said.
A country partnership framework
with Egypt — typically a five-year program — will hopefully go to
the World Bank's board on March 21 for approval, he added.
Egypt last week said it plans to
sell stakes in at least 32 state companies by the end of March 2024, which
Belhaj said was important.
Read more Business
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
