BEIRUT (Enmaeya News) - November 13, 2025

The inaugural Arab Public Finance and Budgeting Forum opened in Beirut on Wednesday with a sharp focus on transforming public spending in the Arab region, as governments grapple with deepening fiscal pressures.

Organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and UNICEF, the two‑day event held at the UN House convened finance, planning, and social development ministers alongside senior policy experts from across the Arab world. 

According to the National News Agency, a figure presented at the forum revealed that the Arab region loses roughly $112 billion every year due to inefficient social spending, a sum equivalent to about 3.2% of regional GDP. 

In his opening address, Lebanon’s Yassine Jaber, Minister of Finance, called the timing of the forum “critical” as the region confronts overlapping security, economic and social crises.

He reiterated that public budgets are not only accounting tools but “mirrors of societal priorities,” stressing the need to balance urgent social demands against long‑term fiscal stability.

Participants discussed a range of tools and strategies aimed at smarter, more equitable spending, including AI‑powered budgeting platforms and regional social‑expenditure monitors. 

The forum seeks to translate commitment into action by strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing transparency in budgeting, and forging a roadmap for sustainable social‑sector investment.

With many Arab states facing rising debt service burdens and shrinking fiscal space, the forum stressed that directing funds toward productive sectors and human capital is essential. As Minister Jaber put it, “our region can rise from crises toward a new social contract built on trust, fairness and efficiency.” 

The forum runs through November 13 and represents a concrete step toward reshaping how Arab states manage public finance in pursuit of inclusive growth and stability.