The activities of the eighth Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) are set to kick off on Jan. 25. 

Organizers say 3,000 Saudi and foreign business specialists are expected to take part in the forum. It will also attract ministers, government officials and prominent figures. 

This years’ speakers include Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google and former member of the board of directors of Apple; Nika Gilauri, prime minister of Georgia, former head of the state-owned equity fund and a senior adviser to the decision-makers in the public sector; and Ali Faramawy, chairman of Microsoft Middle East and Africa.

‘Competitive government’ is the main theme of the GCF this year, which will be held over three days in Riyadh.

The theme highlights the pivotal role the public sector plays in strengthening the national economic competitiveness of many countries.

The GCF also aims to discuss ways to advance the performance and competitiveness of Saudi government institutions, and ways of keeping abreast of international developments. The GCF in its 8th session seeks to build effective and successful partnerships for the localization of specific investments.

In its second year, the “Invest Saudi” exhibition will highlight key sectors for investment, such as the transfer of technology, development of exports, and investment in human capital, including training and jobs for Saudi nationals

Many government and private entities will join the exhibition.

It offers a chance for representatives of global investment firms attending the forum to explore investment opportunities in the Kingdom across various sectors,  meet with their counterparts from local businesses, and view both local and foreign investors thriving in Saudi Arabia.

As part of the forum preparations, more than 60 speakers have been invited, including a group of Saudi experts and specialists, to cover several key topics

They include theories of competitive governance, women in the industrial sector,  youth empowerment, tips for the small and medium enterprise sector, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The GCF is an annual event attended by a group of elite international business owners and leaders and intellectuals to discuss issues relevant to the competitiveness of economies. 

The GCF aims to raise the level of awareness and attention to the local and global competitive challenges, and discuss issues related to competitiveness, such as: business environment, international trade, sustainable development, the environment, human resource development, innovation and globalization, as well as macroeconomic and microeconomic which are directly close topics to competitiveness.