( CNN ) -- Last week , the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) released its latest `` Middle East and North Africa Economic Outlook '' report . The document aims to provide a detailed overview of the main political , economic and social trends facing the region . Alongside an economic analysis of the cost of the Syrian conflict , the report found that many countries are still struggling to stabilize three years after the Arab Spring . However growth in other countries may be helping the region turn a corner . CNN 's John Defterios sat down with the IMF 's Middle East and Central Asia Director , Masood Ahmed , to probe the report 's findings further and ask how we can expect the countries featured to develop in the near to medium term . He started by asking about the reports findings on growth in the region . Masood Ahmed ( MA ) : ( Right now ) , many oil importing countries in the Middle East and North Africa are growing at between 2.5 % and 3.5 % . Many of these countries were ( previously ) growing at 6 % and 7 % . Egypt ( and ) Tunisia , if you go back to 2008 and 2009 were growing at those rates . How do we get back to those rates and how do we generate more jobs ? First of all , create a degree of more certainty for the private sector . The private sector right now is still holding back because of the transitions . That will work its way through in the next year or so . Second , start embarking on some of the reforms that will improve the prospects for small and medium sized enterprises t come in . John Defterios ( JD ) : People think , 'Oh 2 to 3 % ( a decent rate of growth for developed countries ) and that 's with instability ' . What do you need to get these economies on a more stable track ? MA : The kind of growth you need to get these economies on a stable path is kind of in the neighborhood of 5 % and 6 % rather than 2 % or 3 % . Why ? Because that 's the level of growth that will create the jobs that an accruing number of young people that are coming into the labor market need . JD : You mentioned youth unemployment , in most of these countries it 's 25 % or even more in Arab Spring transition countries . MA : Youth unemployment has been chronically high in our region . But over the past three years because growth rates have slowed down , the number of young people without jobs has actually increased by 1.5 to 2 million people . That in itself means those young people are impatient for a job . But their presence serves sometimes as a deterrent for undertaking the reforms that will generate jobs for them . It 's easier to write checks , increase transfers or try to hire them on the public payroll but it 's not sustainable . JD : The Syrian spillover effect , most people do n't think of this in an economic context but you have . MA : Syria at the moment is obviously a tragedy for the Syrian people but more than that if you look at its neighbors , Lebanon , Jordan and then to a lesser extent Iraq and Turkey , they 're all hosting Syrian refugees . In the case of Lebanon and Jordan , this is probably one percentage point or more of GDP in terms of impact already . Beyond that , there 's regional trade that 's been affected , there 's tourism that 's been affected and then there 's the spread of uncertainty and conflict , sectarian tensions also spilling over across the borders . JD : In your report you underline the inflationary threat . Good news that Dubai landed the 2020 Expo , Qatar has the 2022 World Cup but it could push up prices . MA : You do see some signs of overheating in the short term in Qatar , you do see increases in property prices , particularly real estate in Dubai , and these are things to watch out for . ( But ) overall , inflation rates in the GCC ( Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf ) , including in these two countries , remain quite manageable . These are , as you 've quite rightly pointed out , areas where you need to keep a vigilant eye .
IMF releases latest Middle East and North Africa Economic Outlook ##s . Middle East and Central Asia section of IMF says many countries in region need to stoke growth . Fast growing economies in region need to be wary of inflation .