ESCWA and the Global Coalition on Aging are organizing an online consultation to unlock the potential of the silver economy in the Arab region. The consultation highlights promising initiatives, identifies opportunities and barriers to private sector engagement, and examines the roles of older persons as consumers, workers, innovators and contributors to economic development.
Representatives of relevant ministries and the private sector are joining the consultation. Their recommendations contribute to the outcomes of the 2027 regional conference on the fifth review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).
The consultation takes place as the Arab region undergoes a major demographic transition. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and over is estimated to exceed 90 million, or 13.1 percent of the population. This shift creates policy challenges and opportunities for growth, diversification, innovation, inclusive products and services, and stronger private sector engagement.
Baghdad, Iraq
