If Monday belonged to Bangladeshi microcredit mogul Professor Muhammad Yunus, then Tuesday certainly was Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi’s day. He is a scholar and a poet — and the labor minister, too. He kept the audience glued to their seats until the very end and in splits throughout the session with his sometimes satirical, sometimes cryptic and sometimes funny quotes. When CNN’s John Defterios, who was moderating the morning session, introduced him, Al-Gosaibi was not on stage. He took quite some time to emerge on the podium. “The floor is all yours,” said Defterios, when Al-Gosaibi appeared after quite a pregnant pause. “But you didn’t introduce me,” said Al-Gosaibi. “Yes I did, Mr. Minister,” Defterios replied. “Well then, how come I didn’t hear the applause?” said Al-Gosaibi, prompting a good round of applause from the audience.
This question keeps cropping up at every forum. Should the local speakers speak in Arabic or English? If they choose to speak in English, then they invite the ire of the puritans. Al-Gosaibi was confronted with the same question yesterday. “Your Arabic language skills are legendary,” one Saudi participant said. “You are a litterateur, and it is a treat to listen to you. So we would have loved to hear you in Arabic, especially since you were in such a jovial mood today.”
That gave Al-Gosaibi the perfect opportunity to win over the non-Arabic speaking audience. “I asked the organizers as to what language I should speak in. I was told that there were simultaneous translations available to all. And so when I found out that we have a large group of honorable and eminent guests from outside, I thought it was part of our hospitality to speak to them in their language. Jeddah is known for its legendary hospitality. It is especially welcoming to foreigners. It embraces everybody. Jeddah provides a shade to all newcomers,” Al-Gosaibi said, drawing another round of thunderous applause.
With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Al-Gosaibi said he took what he called a “grand total” of seven courses in economics. “Four of them were in Cairo, two in California and one in London. In Cairo, I learned what the government wanted me to learn. In California, I learned what the professors wanted me to learn. In London, every time I tried to learn one principle of economics, the teacher would come and tell me ‘but on the other hand.’ So if you want to learn anything about economics, don’t go to London!”
Al-Gosaibi reveled in a little self-deprecating humor. “A lot of people believe that Saudi ministers know nothing,” he said. “Where did these ministers come from?” He spoke about the three schools that dish out ministers. “One was the railroad organization. There have been five directors general of the railroad organization who went on to become Cabinet ministers. Incidentally, I was one of them. The second school was the University of Southern California. For some strange reason, it was considered as the training ground because it was found that eight graduates of USC became Cabinet ministers. Others believed that the Shoura Council was the training ground because seven of its members had become Cabinet ministers. Now, for your information, the railroad organization is being privatized, and USC is no longer in vogue. So your only chance now is the Shoura Council.” John Defterios, the moderator, immediately quipped: “It is very sad to hear that USC is out of fashion. I missed the Cabinet call!”
Being the labor minister is tough. “I will never get the Nobel for popularity. Although I am working very hard for an Oscar,” Al-Gosaibi said, receiving a hearty laugh from women in attendance.
Speaking of training, Al-Gosaibi said: “If somebody tells you that the government can run a successful training program on its own, don’t believe it. On the other hand, if somebody tells you that the private sector can on its own come up with a successful program, don’t believe them, either. The government doesn’t have the talent, and the private sector doesn’t want to spend the money.”
Al-Gosaibi said everyday he looks for Aladdin’s lamp. “Should I get one, and if the genie appears, I will ask for two wishes. My first wish will be to have 100 businessmen like Muhammad Jameel, the chief of ALJ Co. He has single-handedly provided thousands of jobs to Saudi youngsters.” He paused and then said: “You want to know my second wish, don’t you? Take this ministry away from me.” It brought down the house.