News in Depth
February 14, 2006

Jeddah Economic Forum 2006
Press Summary

This SUSRIS IOI provides a sampling of press reporting on the Jeddah Economic Forum 2006 (Feb. 11-13).

JEF Focuses on Sustainable Economic Growth
The Seventh Annual Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) began yesterday with delegates acknowledging a wide variety of national cultures while admitting certain common grounds as building blocks for sustainable economic growth. With the global village a reality, pressures are increasing for preserving cultural identity and respecting the beliefs and values of all without a �one size fits all� approach. Unlike previous forums, this year there is particular focus on cultural and social issues in the light of economic and political strategies. Following the opening remarks by the chairman of the JEF, Amr Enany, who pointed to this need for balancing globalization with local identity, the Saudi minister of culture and information, Iyad Madani, presented �Saudi Arabia-Vision 2020.�

Saudi dedicated to walking middle, conciliatory path
The three-day 7th Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), which is getting to be a heavyweight in the global arena, opened here yesterday presenting a bold and bright vision of Saudi Arabia by 2020. In his keynote address, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani, in the presence of dignitaries both from the kingdom and abroad and hundreds of participants, highlighted diversity, unity and moderation that Saudi Arabia stands for. He dwelt on the kingdom's policies, which take into account the care and concern for domestic and international welfare and universal well-being.

�Diversification Key to Success�
A top US publisher yesterday rejected the Western assumption that Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East would be paralyzed without oil. �One of the factors justifying this rejection is the region�s intensification of economic diversification coupled with privatization,� Steve Forbes, president and CEO, of the US-based Forbes Inc., told the 7th Jeddah Economic Forum yesterday. �Achieving the dream of a successful global economy� was the subject of the final session of the forum. �In fact, Saudi Arabia has the best environment for business and has an edge over even Dubai,� he said, urging the Kingdom to intensify and expand its process of privatization.

Gore Decries Treatment of Arabs Post 9-11 
Former Vice President Al Gore told a mainly Saudi audience on Sunday that the U.S. government committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment. Gore said Arabs had been "indiscriminately rounded up" and held in "unforgivable" conditions. The former vice president said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qaida's hands by routinely blocking Saudi visa applications.

Dialogue Needed to End East-West Divide: Gore
Focused reasoning and intense dialogue that invite a full and courageous examination of the issues that our world is facing is the most important characteristic that helps to bridge East-West divisions. This was the view expressed yesterday by former US Vice President Al Gore during his speech at the 7th Jeddah Economic Forum.

�Women�s Rights Is a Key to Solving Social Problems�
The first session of day two of the Seventh Jeddah Economic Forum began with a focus on women. Cherie Booth, or as she is more commonly known as Cherie Blair, a lawyer and Queen Council, spoke about human rights and women development. �Women�s rights is a key to solving social problems,� emphasized Booth.

JEF Diary: Many People Didn�t Realize What Madani Was Driving At
If there are women queuing up at the Traffic Department today, don�t be surprised. �There is nothing in the law that prohibits women from applying for a driver�s license,� Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani told a packed audience at the Jeddah Economic Forum yesterday. The women didn�t know how to react, but a moment later they all screamed, �Yes!� He continued, �If the traffic director turns down your request, then approach him and try to sort out your problem. There is nothing in the law that prevents women from applying for a driver�s license.�

Cherie Blair pleads for women's rights
Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, made a plea for women's rights at an economic forum in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, telling the kingdom's leaders that the dearth of women in the workforce was "undermining (the) economic potential" of the kingdom. And Irish President Mary McAleese urged Saudi Arabia to learn from Ireland's economic transformation, which hinged on opening the country to the outside world and ushering women into the workplace.

Change comes slowly for out-of-sight Saudi women
..Saudi society is cracking open, very slowly; very, very cautiously, but just enough to surprise visitors anticipating something darker, more tense and oppressive. In this most conservative of Muslim countries, Saudi men shake the hands of western women without flinching. King Abdullah shook the hand of our woman President several times. In the forum's media centre, young male and female Saudis (men in traditional white robes, women veiled and wearing abayas) worked and laughed together. At the forum, where some 600 of the 2,000 delegates were female, Saudi businesswomen proudly took their places, albeit in a sea of head-to-ankle black and arriving through a separate entrance to sit, unseen, behind a Perspex screen..

JEF Diary: �Shukran Jazilan� Brings a Smile to Many Eyes
�Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.� The highlight of Day 2 at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) was the stirring speech by articulate and soft-spoken Irish President Mary McAleese. She got a rousing round of applause for opening her address with a prayer in Arabic. �Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.� After applauding, the audience responded, �Waalaikum Assalam.� Responding to a question about the role of women in business, she drew more applause when she said: �The Prophet�s first wife was herself a very successful businesswoman.�

�Stand Firm to Face Challenges�
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed yesterday emphasized Saudi Arabia�s leading role in the Islamic world. �This leadership position demands that we stand firm in the face of challenges,� he said in his opening address at the 7th Jeddah Economic Forum last night.. ..Prince Abdul Majeed said dialogue and intellectual exchange were essential for economic progress. �Means of dialogue and intellectual exchange will contribute to the process of economic and social building for the future,� the governor said.

Danish speakers not to attend Jeddah Economic Forum 2006
In response to reports that delegates from Denmark will not be coming to Jeddah Economic Forum 2006, Amr Hassan Enany, JEF Chairman, pointed out that the two Danish guest speakers concerned have themselves declined the invitation to attend and that their decision was entirely their own. Enany added that The Jeddah Economic Forum has always been a platform on which to discuss topical current affairs, whether economic, social, political or religious, affecting not only the region but the international arena as well. This is only possible through a cultural exchange between a diverse group of professionals representing different societies and ideologies.

Jeddah forum expresses concern over terrorism
The anxiety and the concern generated universally by incidents of terrorism following the 9/11 event were visible among many attendees at the 7th Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) on the third day of the annual event yesterday, the highlight of the concluding day being the topic �Terrorism � the human toll,� where Sonia Tita Puopolo, daughter of a victim of the 9/11 tragedy, was the featured speaker.

Saudi, US NGOs Can Break Barriers
American and Saudi non-governmental organization must break the long-distance and cultural barriers in order to change stereotypes. This was the topic of the session entitled "Terrorism: The Human Toll" yesterday at the 7th Jeddah Economic Forum.

• Discuss This Issue on SUSRIS 

• For Information on the Discussion Forum