Regional integration enables countries to shape their future, Boutheina Guermazi, Director of the Strategy and Operations Department for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the World Bank, said during the panel discussion titled “Drivers of Regional Integration in IsDB Regions” held as part of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings 2026 in Baku, APA reports.
“Regional integration is not only about physical markets and infrastructure. It is about countries building stronger connections with one another, creating new opportunities and shaping a shared future. We cannot choose our neighbors, but we can choose our destiny, and regional integration helps us do that,” she noted.
She stated that one of the main areas of regional integration is strengthening transport, energy and digital connectivity among countries. According to her, regional cooperation plays a particularly important role in expanding market access opportunities for landlocked countries.
“As a result of regional integration, countries gain access to cheaper resources, new jobs are created and opportunities for economic growth expand. However, integration is not only about connectivity. It also means better integration of markets, services and the movement of people,” Boutheina Guermazi emphasized.
According to her, climate change, pandemics and other transnational challenges cannot be addressed by individual states alone, and in this regard regional cooperation is of great importance.
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