RIYADH: More than 100 leaders will discuss solutions to the global financial crisis at the forthcoming Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) to be held from Jan. 25-27.
Announcing the major upcoming event in the capital at a press conference held yesterday at SAGIA headquarters, SAGIA Gov. Amr Al-Dabbagh told reporters that the forum would be based on the theme entitled “Responsible Competitiveness.” He said that the theme would cover critical topics in social development that encourage the national competitiveness agenda.
“It balances and combines economic and societal needs to build sustainable, profitable and responsible business,” he said, describing the meeting as the second largest economic grouping in the world after Davos.
He said that the forum will be held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah where world leaders, renowned economists and erudite scholars are slated to address the delegates on the challenges facing the world community as a result of the global economic crisis.
The governor pointed out that economic experts from the Kingdom and around the world would present papers highlighting the measures adopted by the Kingdom to gain competitive edge in the market. The event will also provide an insight into investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia for local and international companies. Around 20 panel discussions will take place during the three-day event.
Abdulmohsen Al-Badr, chief executive officer of GCF, said that the winners of Khalid Awards For Global Competitiveness would be announced during the event. The Top 100 companies that have performed well in terms of growth will also be announced during the course of the GCF.
“Participating delegates can expect inspiring presentations followed by lively panel discussions and debates involving government officials and private sector executives within the framework of the target to push the Kingdom among the top 10 countries in terms of investment environment competitiveness by 2010,” he added.
Speakers at the forum would also include Mahathir Mohamad, former prime minister of Malaysia; Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland; Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan; Abdullah Ali Reza Zainal, Saudi minister of commerce; Jean Chrétien, former premiere of Canada; Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness; Michael Porter Bishop from William Lawrence University; Jim Clifton, chairman and chief executive officer of the Gallup Organization; Laura D’Andrea Tyson, professor at Haas Business School; Thomas Russo, vice chairman of Lehman Brothers; and John Thain, chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch.
According to “Doing Business Report 2008” released by IFC of the World Bank, the Kingdom ranked among the top in terms of investment environment throughout the Middle East and the Arab World.
Saudi Arabia was placed 23rd out of 178 countries in the 2008 report vis-à-vis 38th in 2007 and 67th out of 135 countries in 2005. Similarly, the Kingdom figured among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of economic reforms between 2006 and 2007, according to the World Bank.