“Building competitive partnerships for a sustainable development” is the theme of the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) being held from Jan. 18 to 20.

The forum will discuss all issues related to the competitiveness of economies, including that of Saudi Arabia, at the Kingdom Center in Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh.

GCF, which is planned to be attended by a select group of business owners and leaders, and world economic thinkers, seeks to raise the level of awareness and attention toward the challenges of the local and global competitiveness. Also in focus will be issues related to competitiveness, such as the business environment, international trade, sustainable development, the environment, human resource development, innovation and globalization. Topics of macroeconomics and microeconomics that are directly linked to competitiveness will also be discussed.

Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Gov. Abdul Latif bin Ahmad Al-Othman, stated: “The forum will address a number of issues and topics, which highlight the importance of building effective partnerships between the public and private sectors, in order to raise the level of coordination between the institutions and state agencies on one hand and building bridges of cooperation and integration with the business sector on the other.”

Al-Othman added: “Despite the international character of the GCF, the event will be more interactive. The various sessions and themes of the forum will have Saudi specialists as speakers, along with a number of experts from outside the Kingdom. They will discuss the requirements for forging effective partnerships, the successful localization of specific investments in the Kingdom, the importance of the transfer of technology in the development of investment sectors, and the further promotion of exports and finding appropriate jobs for the sons and daughters of the Kingdom.”

He stressed the need for highlighting the Kingdom’s investment opportunities in various sectors. This will be done through an exhibition on the sidelines of the forum in which government agencies and private sector companies will participate. This also will offer an opportunity for them to meet with their counterparts nationally and internationally.

This forum follows the results of the Global Competitiveness Report for 2013-2014 issued by the World Economic Forum in Davos. According to the report, the Kingdom has been ranked higher in the Global Competitiveness Index.