The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world and affected every aspect of life, including the economy. It has created new challenges that need to be addressed with due seriousness and caution. The global economy has been directly affected by the spread of Covid-19 virus which has forced countries to close their borders. The resulting restrictions on movement of individual, capitals and goods around the world have impacted many economic sectors that rely primarily and directly on free movement of funds, goods and individuals.

As Dr. Mohamed Abdulla AlAli, Director-General of TRENDS Research and Advisory Center, pointed out, the Center plays a vital role in scientifically and methodically studying and analyzing these global developments, presenting an accurate and clear portrayal of them and suggesting the appropriate solutions to deal with their consequent repercussions and challenges.

As part of its drive to create a conducive scientific environment for debate and exchange of views and ideas, the Center organizes this annual global economic forum which addresses economic topics and issues from a scientific and global perspective. The title of this forum, “Covid-19 and the Global Economy”, is meant to reflect the current developments taking place in the economy in an attempt to analyze them, evaluate the proposed solutions and options to deal with them and predict their future trajectories.

The first annual TRENDS Global Economic Forum includes four scientific symposiums with participation of a group of economists and economic researchers from various international economic and financial institutions and organizations. These symposiums are:

• What is going to be the short and medium-term impact of Covid-19 on the global economy?
• Covid-19: An unprecedented shock to the supply and demand sides of the global economy.
• How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the performance of global financial and commodity markets?
• What are the direct and indirect effects of Covid-19 on projected levels of growth?
• Effects on the emerging markets and developing countries.
• Effects on the least developed economies.

• Unconventional monetary policy to minimize the consequences of Covid-19: Lessons from developed economies.
• Simulative Fiscal Policies: Cost-benefit calculations (with a focus on gains from stimulus vis-à-vis rising public debt and more intervention in the economy).
• Social security policies under the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Structural policies: Development of infrastructure in preparation for post-Covid-19 era.
• The role of government spending on technological and medical R&D under Covid-19.
• The need to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Requirements for opening national economies: The medical perspective.
• Requirements for opening national economies: The policies perspective
• An unbalanced reopening of the global economy: Advanced countries VS developing and under-developed countries.
• Dangers of anti-globalization and moves against economic openness: Current trends and lessons learned from the past.

• What will the return to economic activity look like at the global level? (with a focus on the expected shape of the economic activity: V, U or W-shaped?).
• Will the imbalance between countries increase as the return to economic activities vary in speed?
• A new normal … New business models: A look into the post-Covid-19
• The future of international economic institutions and their role in the post-Covid-19 era.