5:47 AM MYT
BEIRUT, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Tuesday projected the growth rate in the Arab region next year at either 3.5 percent or 2.8 percent.
The ESCWA report, "Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the Arab Region," said that the actual path will hinge on the ability of Arab countries to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused losses of about 140 billion U.S. dollars for the region, resulting in an estimated -3 percent growth contraction in 2020.
The ESCWA warns that, although growth is expected to be positive in both scenarios, it will not be enough to yield decent job opportunities.