“Opportunity for All” – enlarging the conversation table for Growth and Employment in MENA

OXCON was tasked with hosting and moderating a very lively Innovation Lab – during which we managed discussions and roundtables that were directed to find innovative and actionable solutions on using “Technology for growth and employment” – before inviting participants to vote for the most promising idea.

And in case you’re curious – the most popular idea was one entitled “EmpowerNET”, which, in a bid to address the dual problem of infrastructure and cost of internet access in relatively poorer areas, would see governments cooperate with the private sector to set up free public internet hotspots. A key innovation wouls be the development of incentives for companies to finance this initiative.

Beyond this panel, the conference was an excellent discussion forum – both in session and outside – to engage active players in the MENA region on growth problematics. We particularly noted an emphasis in the discourse on rural communities – a long overdue and welcome change.