JEDDAH, 2 January 2003 — Some 250 businesswomen have confirmed their participation in the special ladies day sessions on the opening day of the three-day 2003 Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) scheduled at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel on Jan. 18.
The forum will also witness the official launch of "Prince Abdul Majeed ibn Abdul Aziz Award of Excellence" that will annually recognize companies and personalities from the private sector.
"For the first time, the forum, which is being held for the fourth consecutive year, includes sessions dedicated to issues of special interest to businesswomen," JEC Chairman Amr Dabbagh told a press conference at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) yesterday. As many as 900 businesswomen are registered with the JCCI, he said in the presence of JCCI acting Secretary-General Mohammed A. Al-Sharif.
Princess Sarah Al-Angari, wife of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed will attend the inaugural ladies-only ‘Women in Business’. South Africa’s first lady Zinele Mbeki will deliver the opening address.
Jordan Prime Minister Ali Abu Al-Ragheb and former Russian Prime minister Yevgeny Primakov, who is now president of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the Russian Federation, will address the forum. Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid Syed Jaffar Albar and British Minister of International Trade & Investment Baroness Symons of Verham Dean will also deliver keynote addresses.
"Global competitiveness: Thinking globally, acting locally" is the theme of the forum, which is aimed at reflecting the challenges facing businesses in the Middle East and the impact of global events on the region. Among topics for open panel discussions are the role of free trade zones and the future of family companies.
"The forum will be addressed by a talented and diverse range of speakers representing a broad spectrum of the region’s political and commercial perspectives," he added. Speakers and panelists will include Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Industry & Electricity Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, Bangladesh Minister of Commerce Amir K.M. Chowdhury, Jordanian Planning Minister Dr. Bassem Awadallah, Jordanian Minister of Communications & IT Dr. Fawaz Al Zu’bi, Bahrain Monetary Agency Governor Ahmed ibn Mohammed Al Khalifa, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency Vice Governor Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser, Deputy Minister of Commerce for Technical Affairs Dr. Fawaz Al-Alamy, and a host of others at official levels. From the private sector, speakers include Abudawood Trading Co. Vice Chairman Mohammed Abudawood, Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group Managing Director Khalid Kanoo, Ireland-based Examiner Publications Chairman Alan Crosbie, and International Chamber of Commerce’s former President Richard McCormick.
Women speakers will include Christine McCafferty, member of the UK Parliament and parliamentary patron of Women in Business International; Princess Lulwa Al Faisal; Tejari.Com CEO Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, Vision in Practice Director Dr. Carol O’Connor; Mervat M. Tallawy, executive secretary of UN Economic Social Commission for Western Asia; UK-based JCB plc.’s Managing Director Francois Rausch; UAE-based Worldspace Managing Director Khawala Lootah and RAMCO Saudi Arabia Managing Director Princess Arwa Bint Fahd.
Harvard Business School Professors Richard Vietor, John Quelch and Tarun Khanna will present strategic papers and moderate the panel sessions.
Some regional business giants, led by four main sponsors, are featured in the forum. They include Abdul Latif Jameel Group, Kingdom Holding Company, Saudi Aramco and National Commercial Bank. Other sponsors are Saudi Hollandi Bank, Saudi British Bank, United Sugar Company, Basamh Trading Co., Middle East Broadcasting Company and Arab Radio & Television as joint official broadcasters, and Saudi Research and Publishing Company as official publishers.
Dabbagh said the forum was expected to be attended by hundreds of the region’s leading businessmen and women, government officials and academics, together with many global business leaders and international visitors. "We’re expecting to receive business delegations from Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Russia, the UK and a group of high-technology entrepreneurs from the Silicon Valley of the United States," he added.
Topics set for discussion on the opening day for businesswomen include the "Developing role of new technology and employment opportunities for women" and "Leading corporate strategy."
Sessions for businessmen on the next two days will feature topics including "Competitiveness of nations: Recipes for success" by Professor Richard Vietor.
