Minister of Finance Emphasizes Collaboration Amid Economic Challenges
Dubai, February 11, 2025 – Finance Minister Taif Sami underlined the critical need for regional and international collaboration to address the escalating economic challenges faced by Arab nations. This statement was made during the opening of the 9th Forum on Public Finances in Arab Countries, hosted in Dubai’s Jumeirah area, which commenced yesterday.
Organized by the UAE Ministry of Finance in partnership with the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund, the forum precedes the World Government Summit 2025. It features participation from Arab finance ministers, economic experts, and officials from both international and regional financial institutions.
In her remarks, Minister Sami stressed the urgency of adopting adaptive financial policies. She highlighted the importance of finding a balance between developmental needs, financial sustainability, and climate initiatives, especially given the current unpredictability of the global economy.
Moreover, Sami emphasized the necessity of structural reforms aimed at bolstering financial stability and ensuring sustainable public spending. She called for the enhancement of financial policy tools to improve expenditure efficiency and to promote financial transparency.
Key Forum Discussions
Under the theme "The Flexibility of Public Finance in a World Surrounded by Uncertainty," the forum aims to explore strategies for achieving this vital balance. It comprises four sessions that address major economic challenges, including the implications of the overall economy on public finance, debt pressures, financial policy adaptations in response to climate change, and the progression of tax systems to align with economic transformations.
Participants are also engaging in discussions on financing mechanisms for sustainable development and the role that regional and international financial institutions play in assisting Arab countries in reaching their economic objectives. Opportunities and challenges associated with adopting modern financial technologies to promote digital transformation in the financial sector are also on the agenda.
The forum is set to culminate in a ministerial roundtable featuring Arab finance ministers alongside representatives from the International Monetary Fund and the Arab Monetary Fund. This concluding session will focus on developing strategies for regional financial cooperation and identifying priority areas for economic and financial policy in the forthcoming period.
