The World Bank-organized roundtable on water and energy in the Middle East convened from 27-28 May 2003 in Beit-Meri, Lebanon, bringing together 150 participants from governments, the private sector and the donor community to address critical financing and policy needs for the water and power sectors in the Middle East and North Africa.

Participants discussed several critical areas for improving water and power infrastructure, such as private sector participation and regulation. Many noted that the private sector will play a significant role in meeting the financing needs of both sectors, and recognized that in order to attract the private sector, proper regulatory frameworks based on transparent procedures need to be in place. Private sector participants also called for more streamlined procedures for transactions and enhanced upstream involvement of the Bank in risk sharing. For more information visit: http://web.worldbank.org