The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) is organizing the forum under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

With the official support to the event, the Kingdom is aiming to demonstrate its commitment toward establishing an environmentally responsible region for generations. The event will focus on the theme of “Green Economy, CSR and Green Innovation.”

This forum is considered the largest annual strategic environment conference in Saudi Arabia with a focus on the green economy and CSR. With the green economy becoming an increasingly exciting sector in which to conduct business, the conference will highlight opportunities for involvement in protecting and preserving the environment in a period of great economic expansion.

Taking place from March 25 to 27 at Jeddah Hilton, the GEF combines an international exhibition and senior level conference that gathers experts in the renewable environmental market.

GEF 2012 will bring together private sector as well as public sector organizations such as ABB Saudi Arabia, Ernst and Young, Ferrostaal, GE Power and Water, Marafiq, Mohammed Turki Mott Macdonald, Saudi Binladin Group, Siemens, Soroof International and Worley Parsons Arabia.

Government sector organizations including the Jeddah municipality and various ministries will also participate.

“This important initiative has now grown to become the largest annual strategic conference and international exhibition in the Gulf region that focus on the green economy, CSR and green innovation,” said PME chief Prince Turki bin Nasser.

According to Prince Turki, this event has been developed as a platform to bring public and private entities from the GCC countries and the wider international community together to discuss environmental enterprise opportunities. “I look forward to welcoming all stakeholders who are committed to ensuring a prosperous and sustainable Gulf region at the Gulf Environment and Sustainable Development Forum in March,” he said.

“Moving to a green economy will create 60 million job opportunities until 2020 in the Middle East. Here, we should mention that the Kingdom will try to benefit from neighboring countries’ experience in implementing a green economy strategy to ensure sustainable development.”

Prince Turki emphasized that the GCC countries have to move foreword with implementing a green economy 20 years after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit, in 1992.

“This summit will be held again in 2012, where it will focus on several themes, including green economics to achieve sustainable development and kill poverty, so it’s our turn in the GCC to discuss the green economy and sustainable development,” he said.