Diversification and Industrial Policy for Sustainable Growth

Source details

Session No.: CE 26.36
Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
Date: October 19-22, 2026 (1 week)
Delivery Method: In-person Training
Primary Language: English
Deadline passed
Qualifications: Basic knowledge of economic theory, especially in development economics and international trade, and general concepts in national accounts and growth accounting such as Total Factor Productivity and finance are preferred.

Senior policymakers, economists, and technical experts from oil-exporting and resource-rich countries, particularly in the MENA region, involved in shaping strategies for economic diversification and industrial development.
Professionals in ministries of finance, economy, and planning, central banks, development institutions, and sovereign wealth funds seeking to apply global best practices from Europe, Latin America, and East Asia to foster sustainable growth, innovation, and job creation amid the energy transition.

Rationale: Oil-exporting countries face urgency to change growth models to achieve sustainable growth, create good jobs, and manage uncertainties from a potential acceleration of the energy transition.
Comparative approach: Applies experience from Europe, Latin America, and East Asia, in particular the Asian Miracles, to draw lessons for resource-rich economies.
Core emphases:
- Principles of industrial policy tailored to resource-rich economies.
- Frameworks for sector selection and institutional setups for industrial policy.
- Key policy tools and challenges in the current global context.
- Financial policy issues and mechanisms to catalyze finance for growth, innovation, and other macroeconomic objectives.

Analyze long-term growth and diversification challenges in resource rich and MENA economies, using stylized facts and comparative international evidence.
Assess the role of the state and industrial policy in promoting structural transformation, including trade-offs between import substitution and export oriented strategies.
Identify the key determinants of sustained growth, including technology, innovation, institutional quality, and the development of sophisticated industries.
Design elements of an effective industrial policy framework, including sector selection, institutional arrangements, and policy instruments, with a focus on applicability to resource rich economies.
Evaluate national systems of innovation, drawing lessons from the Asian Miracles and assessing their relevance for MENA economies.
Understand the role of finance in industrial development, including the function of development banks and financial incentives in supporting export oriented and innovative sectors.
Apply course concepts to country-specific contexts through workshops and group discussions focused on growth models, innovation systems, and financial structures in the MENA region.