There is significant scope for MENA countries with experience in the transport equipment sector to host European companies relocating their production in the region in search of lower wages and skill availability. Iran and Turkey are Largest Iron and Steel Producers. Other major Arab producers include Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Candidate production lines worthy of further expansion include flat products for the transport industries and pipe products for oil lines. With natural gas becoming the second largest energy input for the industry after coke, existing production capacity can be significantly expanded in light of the fact that the region accounts for 21 percent of the world's proven reserves of natural gas.
Pharmaceuticals Can Meet Demand in Niche Markets.
Processed Food Output Will Expand Due to Reforms. Among the main factors expected to play an important role in expanding processed food output in the MENA region are major reforms benefiting the agricultural sectors which have resulted in the liberalization of agricultural input and output prices. Back to top Labor Market and Human Resource Development Trends and Forecasts Growth in Labor Supply Driven by Increase In Young Workers. The growth in the labor supply was driven for the most part by rapid increases in the young working age population of the region. Real Wages Declined in the Second Half of the 1980s.