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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