JEDDAH: Sources at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said on Sunday that the approval from the government to hold the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), scheduled to open on Feb. 13, has been received.
Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center which is organizing the forum this year said it would take place as per the schedule on Feb. 13-16 and that all preparations had been completed.
Sager denied rumors that the JEF would be delayed, saying that JCCI’s previous board of directors had already made arrangements to hold the JEF as scheduled.
“As many as 36 speakers have so far agreed to address the forum,” he pointed out. He said apart from foreign experts, the speakers included the Saudi ministers of petroleum, finance, and commerce and industry as well as the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. Foreign delegates included the governor of the Italian Central Bank and deputy US secretaries of state and finance. “The Global Economy 2020” is the title of this year’s forum, Sager said, adding that it would discuss the future of the world economy over the next 10 years.
Experts will present strategic plans to strengthen development of vital sectors such as banking, finance, trade, industry, education and health. More than 1,000 delegates from inside and outside Saudi Arabia are expected to attend the forum which is considered one of the major events in the Middle East. Those who intend to participate in the forum must pay an entrance fee of $1,500. Since 2000, the JEF has held nine annual sessions except in 2009. The sessions were organized and supervised by the Jeddah Marketing Board, an affiliate of the JCCI.
Three committees have been formed to organize the forum for 2010. Saleh Kamil, chairman of JCCI, chairs the main committee. Its members are: Majed Al-Qassabi, Aisha Natto and Muhammad Binladin, who are also members of the JCCI board.
The 10th edition of the forum will look beyond the current global economic crisis and focus on the shape and leading characteristics of the next phase of global growth. After the opening, three sessions are planned for each of the next three days. Sessions on the first day will cover global economic governance after the crisis, and the future of currency, banking and finance.
The second day will be devoted to energy and the environment, conservation policies, trade and investment, and agriculture and food security. Issues related to health, education, and science and technology will be discussed on the final day.
