The Mediterranean region includes countries in North Africa - parts of the Middle East - Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Significant projects in the region so far include:

• The Industrial Modernisation Programme in Egypt, financed by the EU and the Government of Egypt, which had a total spend around €450 million;
• A community-based €72 million programme of employment and infrastructure development in 50 of the poorest communities in NE Algeria;
• A programme with the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Lebanon to improve the environment for small businesses, including management of a €4 million guarantee fund;
• A €20 million programme of support for municipal development in Syria based on new local government legislation and improvements to municipal services;
• €3.95 million project for the European Investment Bank providing assistance in institutional development and organisational change under the Damascus Rural Water and Sanitation Project;
• A €10 million technical assistance programme for strategic development and capacity building of the water sector in Algeria (as a member of a consortium);
• Assistance to privatization of a range of enterprises in Algeria (as a member of a consortium).

The Mediterranean region is supported through our Brussels office and HQ, and business development is led by a director and a small team of specialists. In addition to providing business development activities for other countries, such as Afghanistan and Iran, the office is also currently providing project management and backstopping for a major new project in Nepal on conflict mitigation and human rights and a €20 million strategic programme for improving the business environment of ACP countries – more detailed descriptions of these projects can be found under this section by following the link on the right.