Within the MENA-CLS project implemented by the Arab Center for the Rule of Law and Integrity (ACRLI) and in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), ACRLI organized the Second Regional Conference on “Prospects and challenges facing the Modernization of the Legal Environment to enable Business and Investment in the MENA Region”; held in Beirut on 22-23 January 2010.

The conference was seeking interpreting key findings of the project including researches, general and specialized reports and surveys on commercial laws in the project countries. It also proposed reform recommendations related to: "Investment Laws, particularly Real Estate Laws in Dubai" – United Arab Emirates, "Competition Laws" in Tunisia, "Intellectual Property Laws" in Lebanon, and "Enforcement of Contracts and Debt Recovery" in Yemen, which were the outcome of the national thematic studies developed in the context of the project.

This conference serves as a common ground enabling the development of commercial laws in the MENA region through access to concrete thematic recommendations, and will form a strategic reference point for reform efforts in this area.

The participants included governmental representatives, judges, lawyers, businesspersons from the project’s countries as well as representatives from the private sector and relevant international organizations.

1. Report

2. Background Paper

3. Executive summary (Lebanon, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen)

4. List of Participants

5. Press Releases: Tunisia Press, Lebanon Press

6. Press Conference: The Arab Center for the Development of the Rule of Law and Integrity held a press conference at the Press Syndicate in Beirut on 19 January 2010 attended by representatives of audio-visual and written media as well as relevant experts and researchers.
   The press conference called on the Lebanese media and Arab media representatives working in Lebanon to attend the international and regional conference entitled “Prospects and challenges facing the Modernization of the Legal Environment to enable Business and Investment in the MENA Region” which will be held at Hotel "Le Royal” Dbayeh on 22-23 January 2010 starting 4 o’clock pm.
   The regional conference will address issues of intellectual property laws, competition, real estate investment as well as enforcement of obligations in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative and a significant number of international organizations and global funds.
   In addition it will contribute in the modernization of commercial and business laws aiming at building and developing a business enabling legal environment based on updated and modern legislations and a fair, efficient and effective judiciary.
   - Press Conference pictures: Picture1, Picture2, Picture3

7. Presentations:

   • Presentation-Alexander Boehmer

   • Presentation-Amin Awad

   • Presentation- Shaher El Salihi

   • Presentation- Elias Baroudi

   • Presentation Fouad Shaker

   • Presentation- Ghaleb Ghamen

   • Presentation- James Filipi

   • Presentation- Jassim El Shamsy

   • Presentation -Joerg Simon

   • Presentation -Julien Levis

   • Presentation -Khalifa Tounakty  

   • Presentation -Lubna Quassim

   • Presentation -Mohammed BenFrej

   • Presentation-Rainer Geiger

   • Presentation -Serge Najjar

   • Survey Results Presentation- Lebanon

   • Survey Results Presentation- Tunisia

   • Survey Results Presentation- UAE 

   • Survey Results Presentation- Yemen

8. Second Regional Conference Videos:
   - ACRLI MENA-CLS Project Video (YouTube)
   - Interviews: Interview1, Interview2, Interview3 \ on YouTube: (Interview1, Interview2, Interview3)
   - Conference Videos: Part1, Part2, Part3

9. Second Regional Conference Pictures: