Projects in Middle East & North Africa (by Year)

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COUNTRY	FISCAL YEAR	TYPE of PROJECT	DESCRIPTION
Egypt, Arab Republic of	2007	Special economic zones	FIAS reviewed the Free Zone Strategy in light of international trends and reforms that were adopted in Egypt (part of the Global Investment Law and Policy Research and Advisory Project, GILPRA).
Egypt, Arab Republic of	2007	Special economic zones	In preparation for the World Bank's Alexandria Development Project and the Alexandria City Development Strategy, FIAS reviewed the policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for accessing industrial land in Egypt and examined opportunities at two specific sites for private involvement in developing and managing pilot industrial estates, with a view toward nationwide reforms. The project emphasized greater harmonization of the industrial land regimes, clearer delineation of roles and responsibilities of the institutions involved, and the need to shift away from centrally planned, supply-driven, government-built and operated zones functioning on a subsidized basis to a framework that explicitly facilitates greater public-private partnerships and a reliance on market forces in order to remain competitive.
Jordan	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS together with IFC-PEP MENA, designed a transparent, market-oriented, public-private monitoring and reporting system that will help lead to decreased inspection burden; improved risk-management and targeting of public inspections; improved worker conditions; and sustained investment and export levels.
Lebanon	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS, together with World Bank's MENA department and IFC-PEP MENA, conducted a study to streamline administrative barriers to investment in Lebanon.
Syrian Arab Republic	2007	Promotion strategy	FIAS conducted a diagnostic study and provided an overview of the legal, policy, and institutional framework for attracting FDI in Syria.
Yemen, Republic of	2007	Diagnostic	This project is the first phase of a multi-year program. FIAS in collaboration with other parts of the World Bank Group and IMF, conducted a study on tax policy and administration to assist the government of Yemen in reforming the business environment.
Yemen, Republic of	2007	Investment policy	FIAS prepared three policy notes on (i) the role of investment climate reform and investors conference; (ii) role of industrial estates; (iii) international experience on merging the IPA with the economic zones authority in Yemen.
Egypt	2006	Free Zone Strategy	At the request of the Minister of Investment and in partnership with the World Bank, FIAS reviewed the Free Zone Policy of Egypt and formulated strategic recommendations based on international best practice and major reforms recently implemented in Egypt.
Saudi Arabia	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	At the request of the Government, FIAS conducted a field mission to assess the priority needs for technical assistance in the area of special economic zones (SEZ). The Aide-memoire outlined a possible program of assistance based on our mission findings and is under review by the authorities.
Syria	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	In order to update and supplement the ICA of the World Bank, FIAS reviewed the Syrian FDI environment to identify policy, legal, procedural, institutional and other types of impediments to the flows of FDI in Syria.
West Bank & Gaza	2006	Industry Competitiveness	The MENA region of the World Bank solicited FIAS’ participation to prepare the Country Economic Memorandum (CEM). FIAS focused on investment climate issues in the overall economy and in a few sectors.
Egypt	2005	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in its effort to facilitate private investment in the country and to improve transparency and effectiveness of Government operations.
Malta	2004	Incentives	Assessed Malta's incentive provisions against EU rules and international best practice in preparation for their EU membership.
Syria	2004	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed Investment Law No. 10 and its amendments, and provided recommendations to enhance the legal framework and to make it more conducive to attracting FDI.
Algeria	2003	Diagnostic	Co-sponsored with the MENA region of the Bank a survey of potential foreign investors in 3 European countries (France, Italy, and Spain).
Algeria	2003	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study to identify the main policy and regulatory constraints affecting the investment climate and recommend specific changes.
Jordan	2003	Investment policy: Law	Conducted a desk review of a draft Investment Law.
Kuwait	2003	Administrative Barriers	Assessed the country's administrative impediments to investment, highlighted how such barriers negatively impact on the investment environment, and provided recommendations for change.
Kuwait	2003	Diagnostic	Assisted in drafting a Bylaw for a new act on FDI that had been signed earlier and provided additional recommendations on automating fiscal incentives and information on screening and licensing.
Saudi Arabia	2003	Administrative Barriers (Implementation)	Composed a brief paper which examined the role of FDI as a tool to address the cyclical nature of the oil-dependent Saudi economy and the increasing unemployment problem and conducted a presentation at the Saudi Vision 2020 Conference on global best practices in implementing investment climate reforms
Tunisia	2003	Incentives	Assessed the tax system and the incentive regimes, in close coordination with the Bank's MENA region.
Kuwait	2002	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed draft law on FDI in preparation for future IPA implementation assistance.
Saudi Arabia	2002	Administrative Barriers	Analyzed administrative procedures needed to establish and operate private investment projects in the country, including assistance in strengthening recently established One-Stop Shop services.
Saudi Arabia	2002	Promotion strategy (Implementation)	Provided five brief analyses on specific investment climate issues to facilitate the implementation of a proposed investment promotion strategy.
West Bank & Gaza	2002	Diagnostic	Assessed the FDI climate.
Yemen	2002	Institutions	Reviewed consultant inputs for a World Bank project examining the role of the General Investment Authority in attracting FDI.
Egypt	2001	Institutions	Developed an institutional framework for foreign investment promotion.
Morocco	2001	Investment policy: Law	Performed a desk review of the country's Investment Charter.
Saudi Arabia	2001	Investment Policy/Institutions	Conducted a detailed analysis of the institutional framework for effective investment promotion and facilitation and the new investment law.
Egypt	2000	Promotion Strategy	Developed a general strategy for more pro-active investment promotion.
Iran	2000	Diagnostic	Conducted a comprehensive review of the country's investment climate.
Kuwait	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's FDI law.
Lebanon	2000	Institutions	Provided assistance to the Investment Development Authority in the establishment of a one-stop shop service.
Qatar	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's FDI law.
Yemen	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed amendments to the country's investment code.
Egypt	1999	FDI Database	Helped developed an FDI database.
Iran	1999	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's foreign investment law.
Jordan	1999	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a review of administrative procedures for foreign investments.
Egypt	1998	Administrative Barriers	Recommended reforms of investment procedures and institutions and offered advice on streamlining the process for establishing a business.
Jordan	1998	Diagnostic/Promotion Strategy	Assisted the government in launching a new investment promotion campaign by identifying further improvements in the investment environment, adopting a more pro-active investment strategy, and strengthening the Investment Promotion Corporation.
Kuwait	1998	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the draft Foreign Capital Investment Law to help ensure a clear legal framework governing foreign investment terms of entry, foreign investor rights, and institutional arrangements for FDI promotion and approval.
Lebanon	1998	Diagnostic/Promotion strategy	Evaluated the country's business climate, recommended streamlining administrative procedures, and proposed an FDI promotion strategy.
Tunisia	1998	Promotion strategy (Implementation)	Helped structure the investment promotion agency and develop a national investment promotion strategy.
West Bank & Gaza	1997	Investment policy (Implementation)	Provided assistance in developing the basic regulatory and institutional framework for private sector activities.
Yemen	1997	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate and an investor survey identifying major impediments to foreign direct investment.
Tunisia	1996	Institutions (Implementation)	Assisted in implementing earlier recommendations for the establishment of a new investment promotion institution.
Union du Maghreb Arabe (UMA)	1996	Incentives	Conducted a study on the desirability and feasibility of harmonization of investment incentives among countries constituting the UMA (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia).
West Bank & Gaza	1996	Investment policy: Law (Implementation)	Provided assistance in revising a draft investment law based on its earlier recommendations.
Jordan	1995	Investment policy: Law/Institutions (Implementation)	Provided assistance in implementing earlier advice on the investment law and structure of the promotion agency.
Morocco	1995	Institutions/ Promotion strategy	Conducted a competitiveness study of selected manufacturing sectors and assisted in the design of an investment promotion strategy.
Tunisia	1995	Institutions/ Promotion strategy	Conducted a competitiveness study of selected manufacturing sectors and assisted in the design of an investment promotion strategy.
West Bank & Gaza	1995	Diagnostic	Reviewed the policy and legal framework for foreign direct investment.
Egypt	1994	Backward linkages	Completed a study on ways to facilitate linkages between foreign and local firms.
Lebanon	1994	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Oman	1994	Institutions	Assisted in the establishment of an investment promotion unit in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Algeria	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Jordan	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
United Arab Emirates	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Tunisia	1992	Promotion strategy	Developed a foreign investment promotion strategy.
Yemen	1992	Institutions	Conducted a study on the structure and operations of the General Investment Authority and made recommendations.
Egypt	1991	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Morocco	1991	Investment policy/Promotion strategy	Reviewed administrative procedures and developed a foreign investment promotion strategy.
Saudi Arabia	1991	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.