Minister of Economic Affairs: ‘Seizing growth opportunities to deepen reforms’
Washington
The Ministers of Economy and Finance and the central bank governors of Arab countries held, yesterday Wednesday in Washington, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, their annual meeting with the Managing Director of the Fund, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva.
Mauritania was represented there by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Dr. Abdallahi Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidya, accompanied by the Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Lemine Ould Dhehby.
The meeting focused on ways to support economic reforms to strengthen financial stability in the Arab region, in a global context marked by significant uncertainties.
In his speech, the minister praised the IMF’s consistent commitment to the region, highlighting that the Fund remains a reliable partner and a key pillar of stability in an environment still marked by fragility and uncertainty. He noted that the economies of the Middle East and North Africa have shown remarkable resilience despite increasing geopolitical tensions, while warning that the most vulnerable countries remain exposed to risks linked to the complexity of the global financial environment.
Dr. Abdallahi Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidya emphasized the need for cautious management of uncertainty and the importance of maintaining the momentum of reforms. ‘Policymakers must seize existing growth opportunities to rebuild economic margins and strengthen macroeconomic frameworks,’ he stated.
Le ministre a également appelé à l’adoption de politiques budgétaires responsables, à une meilleure efficience de la dépense publique et à une plus grande transparence dans la gestion des ressources nationales, tout en insistant sur la nécessité de maintenir des politiques monétaires centrées sur la stabilité des prix et sur l’indépendance des banques centrales.
Addressing the challenges of structural change and digital transition, Dr. Abdallahi Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh Sidya highlighted their crucial role in job creation and enhancing competitiveness. He stated that ‘digital transformation and energy transition constitute promising opportunities that must be accompanied by good governance and effective social protection measures.’
At the beginning of his speech, the minister mentioned the humanitarian situation in Palestine, stating that “the suffering and destruction in the Palestinian territories require an immediate halt to the violence and the guarantee of unobstructed access to humanitarian aid.” On this occasion, he also reaffirmed the Arab group’s support for Palestine’s representation within the IMF, as a step towards a meaningful contribution to reconstruction efforts.