The Middle East and Central Asia (MCD) region has continued to experience strong growth in 2008, outpacing global growth for the ninth year in a row. High commodity prices, strong domestic demand, and credibility of policy frameworks underpin an expected real GDP growth of 6½ percent this year. And while growth in MCD is lower than in developing countries and emerging Asia, the region has so far largely remained resilient to the ongoing international credit crisis and the downturn in developed economies.