World Bank Regional Economic Updates col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-1 col-lg-1 col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-10 col-lg-10 Reports Regional Economic Updates false lp-heading-top-xxlarge lp-heading-bottom-xlarge col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-1 col-lg-1 col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-2 col-lg-2 col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-8 lp-body-content World Bank Regional Economic Outlook Reports The latest biannual regional economic updates highlight key macroeconomic trends and developments across Africa; East Asia and the Pacific; Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; and South Asia. Published twice a year ahead of the World Bank–International Monetary Fund Spring and Annual Meetings, these reports provide timely analysis of emerging challenges and opportunities shaping each region. col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-2 col-lg-2 sec-swoosh sec-swoosh-none style default sec-swoosh sec-swoosh-none style grid, lp--body-content sec-spacing section-none sec-spacing-bottom section-large no-grid false col-ctrl col-3 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image custom-text tabs col3-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 Africa Regional Economic Outlook Africa: Making Industrial Policy Work in Africa Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic recovery from successive global shocks is losing momentum, with growth projections for 2026 revised downward from those published in October 2025. Geopolitical spillovers from the conflict in the Middle East, high debt service burdens, and structural weaknesses are limiting growth prospects and job creation. Against this backdrop, the report argues that Africa’s growth challenge is structural, reflected in low investment, weak productivity, and limited job creation. With interest in industrial policy growing, the report proposes a pragmatic, ecosystem‑based approach that aligns policy tools with country capabilities to deliver productivity gains and durable structural transformation. Press Release: English | Français | Portuguese Learn More: Report | Publication page | Event | Podcast style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 East Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook East Asia and Pacific: Industrial Policy in the Digital Age The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region continues to grow faster than much of the rest of world, despite external shocks and global uncertainty, but growth is slowing in 2026.  Longer-term growth requires reversing the productivity slowdown. Structural reforms have lost momentum, new jobs are in low-productivity services, and leading firms are falling behind the global digital frontier. The AI boom is spurring trade and investment, but EAP's ability to capture its benefits is constrained by gaps in connectivity and skills. Will the increasing recourse to industrial policy help? Download “Industrial Policy in the Digital Age” to learn more. Press Release: English Learn More: Report | Publication page style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 Europe and Central Asia Regional Economic Outlook Europe and Central Asia: Industrial Policy The resilience of the developing economies of Europe and Central Asia is being tested once again—this time by the conflict in the Middle East, geopolitical tensions, and trade fragmentation. The region’s economic activity is likely to weaken to 2.1% in 2026, down from 2.6% in 2025. The slowdown in productivity growth across many countries over the past decade has led some policymakers to supplement broad structural reforms with industrial policies. While certain tailored interventions—such as targeted public investments like special economic zones or skills development programs—can help address well-identified market failures throughout Europe and Central Asia, industrial policies should be used sparingly and temporarily, serving to complement the institutional reforms necessary to boost productivity, create jobs, and fostering business dynamism. Press Release: English  | Русский | Polski| Türkçe| Română | Українська Learn More: Report| Publication page | Event style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Economic Outlook Latin America and the Caribbean: Revisiting Industrial Policy: Strategic Options for Today Latin America and the Caribbean region enters 2026 with growth still constrained by long‑standing structural challenges. Regional GDP growth is projected to reach 2.1 percent in 2026, with GDP per capita barely growing. Despite these hurdles, the region is uniquely positioned to benefit from the shifting global landscape. Targeted reforms and modern industrial policies can help convert strategic assets into quality jobs and more productive, inclusive growth. Press Release: English  | Español | Français | Portuguese Learn More: Report | Publication page style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 MENA Regional Economic Outlook Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan: Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policies for Development The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region is facing conflict, exacting a serious human and economic toll and heightening geopolitical uncertainty. Disruptions to key energy supply routes and infrastructure have affected markets, driven financial volatility, and weakened the 2026 growth outlook. Excluding Iran, overall growth in the region is expected to slow from 4.0 percent in 2025 to 1.8 percent for 2026. This forecast stands 2.4 percentage points below the World Bank Group’s January projections. Sustained increases in energy prices are generating inflationary pressures through higher production costs and rising food prices, with effects extending well beyond the direct conflict zone. The April 2026 edition of the semi-annual Economic Update, titled Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policy for Development, examines how the conflict is affecting economies across the region, the channels through which these impacts are transmitted, and the potential for industrial policies to drive growth and job creation. Press Release: English  | العربية| Français Learn More: Report | Publication page style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 South Asia Regional Economic Outlook South Asia: Working with Industrial Policy Growth in South Asia is expected to slow in 2026 due to disruptions in global energy markets. Given the region’s reliance on imported energy, the region’s outlook is vulnerable to spillovers from the current conflict in the Middle East. Despite the near-term slowdown, South Asia continues to be the fastest-growing region in the world, driven by robust domestic demand in India and recent trade reforms. The report includes an in-depth analysis on industrial policy in the region and recommends implementing carefully designed industrial policy measures to address specific market failures, alongside broad-based improvements to improve infrastructure, upskill workers, foster business-friendly environments, and mobilize private capital—all of which are critical for sustained growth and job creation. Press Release: English Learn More: Report| Publication page | Event style grid, grid-2column-space, lp--body-content no-grid false col-ctrl col-4 col1-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col2-blocks custom-image col3-class col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col3-blocks custom-text col4-class col-lg-2 col-md-2 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 LEARN MORE lp-heading-bottom-xlarge World Bank Group 2026 Spring Meetings https://live.worldbank.org/en/series/2026/spring-meetings lp lp-external-link Where We Work https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/where-we-work lp lp-external-link style grid, partnerlist-container, countrylist-container, related-3-cols, bg-neutrals-20 sec-spacing section-padding-between sec-spacing-bottom section-padding-between no-grid false col-ctrl col-1