JEDDAH, 16 January 2004 — Over 1,000 business leaders and influential personalities, including former US President Bill Clinton, will be attending the 2004 Jeddah Economic Forum which opens tomorrow.

“In addition to attracting some of the most influential global leaders, we have a strong agenda that will cover burning issues in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and worldwide,” said Amr A. Dabbagh, chairman of the Jeddah Economic Board in a statement to Arab News. “These topics will be addressed over a three-day program that includes entrepreneurship, business growth and job creation in context of globalization and political and economic realignments in our region and worldwide,” he said. “The forum will also highlight the achievement of countries that have pursued strategies for rapid economic development,” he added.

For the first time in the history of the forum, a Saudi businesswoman, Ms. Lubna Olayan, CEO of the Olayan Financing Company, will deliver the keynote speech. Other female participants include Queen Rania of Jordan, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Professor Laura Tyson, Dean of the London Business School.

On the third day former President Clinton, who returns as a second time participant, will address the forum on the subject of “A Global Outlook for 2004 and Beyond” in a session to be moderated by Prince Faisal ibn Salman, chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group.

Other keynote speakers at the 2004 forum include the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and recently retired Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohammed.

The 5th Jeddah Economic Forum will be held over a three-day period. The first day focuses on key economic and social issues facing Saudi Arabia, the second day highlights the regional agenda by showcasing experiences of economies such as Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Turkey that have pursued aggressive strategies for economic development.

The third and final day focuses on the global agenda where examination of the theme of accelerated growth through the lens of globalization and international economic integration using successful models from both from Sweden and the United States.