BACKGROUND

The National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF) originated from the Private and Public Sectors participation at the International Smart Partnership Dialogue in July, 1995 at Langkawi Island in Malaysia. Experts from the private sector, labour, academia, civic society approached the Government for the development of a smart partnership institution that would be the think tank for the country. This process led to the establishment of the National Economic Consultative Forum on 17 July, 1997 after a series of consultative meetings amongst stakeholders.

The imperative to create the NECF was necessitated by the need to tap into, and maximize existing skills and resources in key public institutions, private sector groups, civil and professional groups, as well as individuals with vested interests in the development of the economy. The creation of the NECF was thus based on the assumption that no particular sector or a group of individuals has a monopoly of skills or competencies to grow and develop the economy.