|
Each year,
delegates from around the world meet with their
counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the region, to share
their experience and employ their expertise to create
new and innovative approaches to deal with regional and
global challenges. |
The 8th Jeddah Economic Forum closes
tomorrow with discussions of energy and privatization and a
closing keynote address from former President of Poland Lech
Walesa. This SUSRIS special report provides a snapshot of JEF
2007 days 1 and 2.
�Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and
Expanding Horizons�
Program:
Sunday February 25th am
�Strategies for Economic Reform � Universalism -v-
Particularism�
Sunday February 25th pm
�Flexicurity and Reform: A Balanced Social Agenda�
Monday February 26th am
�People are at the Centre � Social Responsibility and
Citizenship Initiative�
Monday February 26th pm
�The Legal Structure Must Keep Up�
Tuesday February 27th am
�Changing the Global Energy Paradigm�
Tuesday February 27th pm
�Privatisation � the Indispensable Tool�
US
Spin Won�t Work, Says Rania
Lulwa Shalhoub, Arab News
JEDDAH, 26 February 2007 � Building a developed future for
Muslims and Middle Eastern generations and correcting the false
images of them in the West through reforms in the region was the
thrust of Jordanian Queen Rania�s speech during the first
session of the eighth Jeddah Economic Forum yesterday. She
concentrated on the idea that the older generation in all
cultures works for the best of their younger generations and for
building a better world. �We are now planting seeds for future
technological development,� said the queen. [more]
�West Skirting Israeli Nuke Issue�
Hassna�a Mokhtar & Rasheed Abou Alsamh, Arab News
JEDDAH, 26 February 2007 � In a tense debate yesterday at the
Jeddah Economic Forum on the issues of security in the Middle
East, Prince Turki Al-Faisal accused the United States and its
European allies of always avoiding the issue of Israel�s
possession of nuclear weapons. �The Middle East should be free
of all weapons of mass destruction. There is unwillingness on
the part of America and its European allies to discuss Israel�s
weapons. As you have seen just now Gen. Clark and others will go
first to Iran, then other countries, and then to Israel,� said
Prince Turki to loud applause from the audience. [more]
JEF Diary: Profound Words Overshadow
Sound-System Mix-Ups
Siraj Wahab, Arab News
JEDDAH, 26 February 2007 � The opening hours at the Jeddah
Economic Forum (JEF) yesterday were like the weather outside �
dull and dreary. Everything was in fairly bad shape. There were
no star speakers. Moderator Sue MacGregor of BBC Radio did try
to salvage the situation with her witty comments, but she
couldn�t. Most of the speakers were Chinese, and so the language
barrier created plenty of obstacles. The translation services
provided through the electronic system were absolutely useless.
And when MacGregor asked the sound managers to get it right, it
got worse. Of course, what the Chinese speakers were saying was
absolutely crucial. They were talking about the new Silk Route,
reminding the participants how China and the Arabs once had a
historic relationship, thanks to the old Silk Route. They talked
about the need for a robust revival of the Sino-Saudi trade
ties. They also spoke of the emerging role of the East in the
global economy. [more]
Saudi official underlines success of
Jeddah Economic Forum
MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Saudi Arabia's holy city of
Makkah's Prince, Abdulmajid bin Abdulaziz Saturday said Jeddah
Economic Forum has succeeded in triggering economic reforms over
the past seven years. Prince Abdulmajid, in a speech read on his
behalf by his son Faisal at the opening of the Jeddah Economic
Forum, said the event has attracted key politicians and
economists from around the world. He hoped the forum, which
would conclude Tuesday, would continue the pace of economic
reforms. [more]
JEF Diary: American President�s Brother
Building Bridges With Saudis
Siraj Wahab, Arab News
JEDDAH, 27 February 2007 � There are many interesting sessions
being presented at the Jeddah Economic Forum, but just as much
(if not more) is happening on the sidelines of the forum.
International and local businessmen, educators and officials
from around the world are sharing ideas, building relationships
and negotiating business deals � typical networking stuff. It
seems as if there is a conversation going on in every nook and
cranny of the Jeddah Hilton with the impromptu meetings
occasionally spilling out onto the picturesque palm-fringed
seaside promenade just across the street. It was during one such
networking sessions that Arab News ran into Mr. Neil Bush, the
younger brother of the US president. There was no cause to
strike up a business negotiation with the affable brother of the
current US president, who runs an educational software company
with dealings in the Gulf region, but Arab News did take the
opportunity to speak to him. [more]
Value of Jeddah Economic Forum to the
Saudi Image
(MENAFN - Arab News) Michael Saba
The Jeddah Economic Forum bills itself as "The Think Tank of the
Middle East." It also could be called "The Image Tank of the
Middle East." For hundreds of Western visitors to the Jeddah
Economic Forum (JEF), it is their first view of Saudi Arabia and
the Middle East. And Western popular culture perspectives on
Saudi Arabia and the region really can use some image
enhancement. The commonly held view of Saudi Arabia in the West
is neither realistic nor positive. After having attended the JEF
for the past three years and meeting scores of Western attendees
who experienced Saudi Arabia for the first time through the JEF,
it was very easy to see changes in people's attitudes. "I had no
idea the Saudis were so friendly and hospitable," is a common
statement heard from the attendees. "The Western press doesn't
do this place justice," is another phrase often heard. The
opportunities for direct interaction with Saudis and Saudi
culture at the JEF are invaluable components of attending the
forum. [more]
Saudi official calls for boosting competitiveness of nat''l
production
(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Saudi Commerce and Industry
Minister Dr. Hashim Yamani underscored on Sunday the necessity
of boosting the competitive ability of national production
sectors. During the eighth Jeddah Economic Forum, Yamani said
global economy was currently witnessing a very dynamic phase
through direct interaction between global markets and great
technological advances. Now is an opportunity for every nation
to make gains from international competitiveness and achieving
better economic levels to meet the needs of current and future
generations, he said. [more]
'JEF a Platform for Saudi Investments'
(MENAFN - Arab News) JEDDAH, 25 February 2007 � The Jeddah
Economic Forum 2007 kicked off with Prince Faisal ibn Abdul
Majeed formally opening the fifth annual event on behalf of
Makkah Gov. Prince Abdul Majeed at the Hilton Hotel last night.
"The JEF, with economic reform as its central theme, is a
platform for Saudi investment opportunities," he said. The
forum, with its three-day sessions commencing today, is being
attended by more than 2,500 delegates from over 52 countries.
"The essence of the forum is to showcase cultural, scientific
and intellectual discussions in an overview for complete
economic reform," Prince Faisal said. "The forum is much more
than an economic phenomena, as it exemplifies a number of social
concerns featuring case studies of successes that will help in
the development and enhancement of the community from an
economic and social perspective," he added. [more]
�Mega Cities to Open Floodgate for
Business in Saudi Arabia�
Khalil Hanware, Arab News
JEDDAH, 27 February 2007 � After the landmark visit of Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to China, subsequent visit
by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Saudi Arabia early last year
gave a major boost to economic relations between the two
countries. Ren Yuling, member of the Standing Committee of
Chinese People�s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who
is attending the Jeddah Economic Forum 2007, told Arab News in
an exclusive interview yesterday that he had a fruitful
discussion with Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman
Saleh Al-Turki during this visit. They discussed various
economic and historical issues and prospects for further
improvement in the areas of economy and trade. [more]
�Transparency Cornerstone of Trade Policy�
Khalil Hanware & K.S. Ramkumar, Arab News
JEDDAH, 26 February 2007 � Saudi Commerce and Industry Minister
Dr. Hashim Yamani yesterday emphasized the need for boosting the
competitive ability of national production sectors. Speaking at
the opening session of the eighth three-day Jeddah Economic
Forum 2007 (JEF) at the Hilton Hotel, he said that the global
economy was currently witnessing a very dynamic phase through
direct interaction between world markets and great technological
advances. �Now is an opportunity for every nation to make gains
from international competitiveness and work toward achieving
better economic levels to meet the needs of current and future
generations,� Yamani said in his address entitled �Enhancement
of the Saudi Productive Sector�s Competitiveness in a Changing
World Economy.� [more]
Editorial: Economic Forum
24 February 2007 - Arab News
THE Jeddah Economic Forum, which begins tomorrow after an
opening ceremony this evening, has become a fixed star in the
Saudi economic and business calendar as the interface between
world economic trends and Saudi economic practice and needs.
There will be few major Saudi business players who are not in
Jeddah today, not only to listen to speeches and ideas but to
press the flesh, network, or simply see who is there while
making sure they are being seen as well. This year the theme,
�Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons�
and sub-themes, such as �The Role of Saudi Arabia in Changing
the Global Energy Paradigm� and �Flexicurity in Reform: A
Balanced Social Agenda� may sound complex, but they go to the
heart of what the Saudi economy requires. [more]
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