Rebounding from COVID-19: MENA perspectives on resilience in manufacturing and supply systems

The document outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for MENA countries and businesses to shift from cost-competitiveness to "risk-competitiveness" in their supply chains. It highlights a trend toward localization of industrial sectors to reduce reliance on global value chains, though it warns that such efforts must be balanced against risks related to labor stability and operating capital. The report emphasizes the role of advanced technologies—including AI and additive manufacturing—and the necessity of public-private collaboration to enhance regional industrial capabilities and adapt to changing consumer behaviors.

• Business leaders in the MENA region are shifting their supply chain strategies to prioritize resilience over cost, with 47% of surveyed executives stating a need to overhaul their manufacturing and supply networks. Strategies to increase resilience include de-risking, reducing complexity, diversifying the supply base, and increasing the use of local manufacturing capacities and suppliers.
• There is a strong push for localization to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and global supply chains, but the viability of these plans varies by sector. While localization is strongly reinforced when access to operating capital is challenged, it is threatened by labor disruptions (especially in pharmaceuticals and industrial machinery) and potential economic unviability in sectors like metals and construction materials due to sub-scale operations.
• Advanced technologies are critical for adapting to supply and demand disruptions, with a positive correlation found between the use of these technologies and a supply chain's ability to adapt. Key technologies identified include artificial intelligence, data analytics, 3D imaging, and additive manufacturing.
• The pandemic has created a permanent shift in consumer behavior, with 48% of interviewed customers in the region intending to maintain their changed shopping habits, necessitating the rapid tailoring of manufacturing and supply systems.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). Rebounding from COVID-19: MENA perspectives on resilience in manufacturing and supply systems. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Resilience_in_manufacturing_and_supply_systems_MENA_pager_2020.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Rebounding from COVID-19: MENA perspectives on resilience in manufacturing and supply systems. 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Resilience_in_manufacturing_and_supply_systems_MENA_pager_2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Rebounding from COVID-19: MENA perspectives on resilience in manufacturing and supply systems |date=August 2020 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Resilience_in_manufacturing_and_supply_systems_MENA_pager_2020.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020rebounding, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Rebounding from COVID-19: MENA perspectives on resilience in manufacturing and supply systems}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Resilience_in_manufacturing_and_supply_systems_MENA_pager_2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }