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Eyes on JEF as Sessions Start Today
Khalil Hanware & K.S. Ramkumar, Arab News
JEDDAH, 19
February 2005 � The prestigious Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF)
opens at the Hilton this morning for a daylong session, followed
by the formal inauguration by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed
at night.
Some of the
world�s most important leaders, government officials, prominent
businessmen, financiers, economic strategists, academics and other
influential figures are here for the 6th annual event whose theme
is �Capacity building: Developing people for sustainable
growth.�
 The
three-day 2005 JEF is set to attract more than 2,000 delegates
from within and outside the Kingdom. �The forum will discuss
national, regional and international economic issues and highlight
the achievements of countries that have pursued strategies for
human resource development as a prerequisite for sustainable
growth,� 2005 JEF Chairman Amr Enany said.
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, one of the keynote speakers at the
JEF 2005, arrived here yesterday evening. He is accompanied by
Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah, Information and Broadcasting
Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Population Welfare Minister Chaudhry
Shahbaz Hussain, Science and Technology Minister Chaudhry Nouraiz
Shakoor, and other top officials.
He is
scheduled to deliver his keynote address on �Transforming a
nation: Early challenges, obstacles and successes,� with
Mohammed Ahmed Alireza, former member of the Shoura Council and
chairman of Xenel Industries as moderator.
JEF
to Reflect Voices of the Future
Khalil
Hanware & K.S. Ramkumar, Arab News
"..The
Kingdom has 65 percent of its Saudi population as
young as under 21 years of age and it is in this
context that the focus will be on its youth, he
said, adding that this is done under the direction
of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed and with
the cooperation of the London Business School,
which is chosen as the academic partner for the
JEF for the second year in a row. �The forum
will essentially reflect the voices of the
future,�.. ..Mugharbel [CEO
and managing director of Jeddah Marketing Board]
described the JEF as the �think tank� of the
Middle East and offered a platform for exchanging
views on various issues..[more]
Other
prominent international figures including the presidents
of Nigeria, Afghanistan and Senegal and the prime minister
of Malaysia will also address the forum, which will have
dedicated sessions for women and youth. The forum opens at
9 a.m. with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as
keynote speaker and Dr. Fahad Al-Mubarak, member of the
Shoura Council, as moderator. �Capacity building in
action� is the theme of the speech by Obasanjo.
Afghan
President Hamid Karzai will deliver his keynote address on
�Rebirth of a nation: Motivating a broken soul,� with
Dr. Saud S. Al-Mathami, minister of state and member of
the Council for Shoura Affairs, as moderator.
This
will be followed by presentations by Madinah Governor Prince
Muqrin and Minister of Commerce and Industry Hashim A.
Yamani, with Abdulaziz Kamel and Minister of State Abdullah
Alireza respectively as moderators.
The
day will also feature a student panel discussing issues
under the title �Voices of the future,� with Effat
College Dean Dr. Haifa Jamalallail and Dr. Ghazi Binzagr,
president of Arabian Stores Co., as moderators. �The
private sector: A vital driver of local government� is the
subject of the next panel discussion in which Jeddah Mayor
Abdullah Al-Moallami, Mohamed ibn Ali Alabbar, director
general, department of development, Dubai and chairman,
EMMAR Properties, Abdullah Al-Rehemi, director of Civil
Aviation, and Nibras El-Fadel, economic adviser to the
Syrian president, will take part. JCCI Vice Chairman Dr.
Ghassna A. Al-Sulaiman, will be the moderator.
Capacity
building for intra-investment among IDB member countries is
the theme of a lecture by Pakistan�s Investment and
Privatization Minister Dr. Abdul Hafiz Shaikh, with Islamic
Development Bank President Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Ali as
moderator. The day�s session will conclude with a panel
discussion on �Sustaining growth in health care: Working
with other industries� in which Jay D. Keasling, professor
of chemical engineering and bioengineering, University of
California, Dr. Floyd Loop, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, Dr. Wael Kaawach, director on the board of
International Medical Center, and Dr. Ghaleb D. Okla Faama
of a US-based university, will participate, with Dr. Walid
Fitahi, CEO of International Medical Center, as moderator.
Other
distinguished speakers to figure during the next two days
include Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, former US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Suzan Mubarak, the
first lady of Egypt, Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general
of World Tourism Organization, and Prashant Sahni, CEO of
Tecnovate eSolutions.
A
number of Saudi ministers and officials including Prince
Turki Al-Faisal, ambassador to Britain, Prince Sultan ibn
Salman, secretary-general of Supreme Commission for Tourism,
and Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi will also address
the annual event.
Reprinted with
permission of Arab News
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