"The Mediterranean Growth Initiative (MGI) reminds us the Mediterranean remains both opportunity and risk to its wider region. On the one hand, the opportunity to integrate markets and ensure efficiencies in commerce are huge. On the other, the frailty of some of its states make it an exporter of people and of insecurity. For both sets of reasons we should pay a lot more attention to the region – and [the MGI’s] rich array of statistical insights allows us to do that.”

Rt Hon Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, former deputy UN Secretary General, former Administrator UNDP

"At the European Commission we pursue evidence based policy making where authoritative, qualitative and quantitative analytics provide insight and benchmarks to policy development.

As we further implement assistance in the European Union's southern neighbourhood to support reform, good governance and democratic consolidation, to strengthen prosperity, stability and security around Europe, the Mediterranean Growth Initiative (MGI) is tremendously useful in providing such high-quality analysis to institutions and operators alike.

At its core, the MGI aims to highlight the untapped potential that exists when more shared growth and trade develop between Europe, North Africa and the Levant - the Mediterranean - as an interdependent economic space in global trade.

Projects such as MGI have merit in complementing other initiatives bringing together private investors, public sector, financial institutions, to highligh growth and return potentialfor investment and prosperity in Europe and its neighbourhood."

Michael A. Köhler, Director for the Neighbourhood South – DG NEAR, European Commission

“The Mediterranean Growth Initiative fills a major gap in our analytical and statistical information and data relating to economic & financial developments in the Mediterranean region. [It] will be an important, practical addition to the toolkit of private investors and businesses as well as to policy makers in the EU and the Mediterranean countries.”

Dr Nasser Saidi, member of the IMF’s Regional Advisory Group for MENA, Co-Chair of the OECD MENA Corporate Governance Working Group. Former Minister of Economy and Trade and Minister of Industry of Lebanon

"MGI is the first expansive platform focusing on the countries of the Mediterranean. It hosts a large number of regional indicators, as well as a special interactive module on trade covering the full spectrum of industries and trading partners around the globe, to be explored literally at your finger tips."

Peixin Li Dallara, Founder and CEO of Polaris Investments LLC, an independent US consulting firm specialising in private equity fund investments; formerly senior portfolio manager designing private equity investment products including the Asian Infrastructure Fund; Senior Manager, Global Pension Assets, Frank Russell Company.

“This is an important effort to compile data from a region which is suffering from a dearth of evidence-based policy-making. The data also illustrates the lack of integration in the region and the potential this represents in terms of increased trade, investment and economic growth, both within the region and with the European Union. Despite all the political and cultural obstacles it is as part of a wider Europe that the region has the potential for truly prosperous and inclusive societies.”

Professor Erik Berglof, Chief Economist of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Former Director of the Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics and Political Science. Former Chief Economist and Special Advisor to the President European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, professor and Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.

"The Mediterranean Growth Initiative provides a unique set of data about a region crucial for our future. Beyond data, people should also recognise sizable opportunities and crucial challenges. For many sectors and actors I do hope this will help to bring back the Mediterranean on positive grounds."

Philippe de Fontaine Vive, former Vice President, EIB (2003 – 2016). Responsible for activities in France, the Mediterranean region, the innovation sector and for corporate social responsibility.