10 November 2004
"Forum for the Future" Seeks to Boost G8 Cooperation on Mideast
Initiative supports economic, political reform in Middle East, North Africa
Washington -- Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Alan Larson says that the Forum for the Future will open an "avenue of cooperation" between the countries of the broader Middle East and North Africa and the Group of Eight (G8) nations as they work to improve the economic, political and social circumstances of the people in the Middle East and North Africa region.
"There were some apprehensions and some questions about this [initiative] earlier on," Larson told reporters at a November 10 briefing on the forum, scheduled to open in Rabat, Morocco, December 11. "But I think those are behind us, and I think the countries of the region understand that this is something that is truly collaborative, where our goal is designed to be reinforcing of their leadership and their efforts to promote opportunity and reform from within the region."
Larson pointed out that countries from the region are already engaged in numerous reform-oriented projects with countries from the G8 -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia. These programs include parliamentary exchanges, judicial training and media training.
He said that the Forum for the Future would provide all of the countries of the region a broader framework to seek support for their specific reform goals and to pursue new economic opportunities.
Larson mentioned several initiatives that will be discussed at the inaugural meeting of the forum. These include microfinance projects for small entrepreneurs, the establishment of a regional facility for small business loans within the International Finance Corporation, and the creation of a regional funds network among financial institutions in the region.
Business leaders from the region also have suggested the creation of a task force on investment for the business community to work with government officials on establishing a healthier regulatory and investment environment.
Other initiatives under consideration include the establishment of entrepreneurship and business training centers and the creation of programs for literacy training.
The governments of Italy, Turkey and Yemen are also developing a Democracy Assistance Dialogue to provide a forum for discussion of democratic political reforms.
"Each of these initiatives have champions and they have strong supporters from within the region," Larson said. He added that the efforts within the region to develop these projects "will really lay the foundations for the discussions that will be held in Morocco."
The Forum for the Future is the product of a G8 initiative to provide support for countries of the broader Middle East and North Africa in the areas of economic, political and social development. Current participants include all the G8 countries as well as nations from the geographical region stretching from Morocco to Pakistan.
Larson said that the forum is designed to have an open architecture, allowing all the countries of the region to join and participate as they see fit.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
