“Today, no one government or company or group, working alone, can solve a major issue. They all have to work together. For over 30 years we have been bringing together global leaders, from all walks of life, to pursue economic and social activity that will improve the state of the world. Our mission, and the engagement of our members, has never been more essential,” so reads a statement from Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman, World Economic Forum at the forum’s website www.weforum.org.

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization that attempts to improve the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a foundation in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government.

Recently the World Economic Forum has received considerable notice in the Arab world after its release of the “World Economic Forum’s Arab World Competitiveness Report 2005,” and its sponsorship, with the Arab Business Council (ABC), of the Arab Competitiveness Roundtable held in Doha, Qatar.

The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2005 points out that there is growing consensus among prominent leaders in the Arab world that ambitious and sustained economic and political reforms are the only way to boost the region’s growth performance. The authors of the report advise that all Arab nations must boost job creation and income levels and enhancing national competitiveness is essential to achieve those goals. According to the report, failure to act now could have worrisome consequences for the region’s economies and for the regimes that sustain them.

Small Gulf states led the way in the World Economic Forum’s Arab Word Competitiveness ranking, with Qatar on top followed by the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon and Yemen. More about the report including an executive summary is available at the forum’s website.