Economic Cities Authority (ECA) concluded its participation in the 9th Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum in the US capital Washington DC.

Held under the banner, Creating the Foundation for Global Prosperity, the forum saw the participation of a selection of global decision-makers, experts and business people from all over the world in the investment, infrastructure and smart cities sectors.

ECA was represented by SG Mohanud Helal and ECA’s Director General of Executive Affairs Adim G. Al-Sharif.

At a workshop titled Major Projects and Public-Private Partnerships in the Middle East, ECA SG reviewed the role ECA plays as a government facilitator in creating and establishing a lively environment in which the private sector can thrive, invent and innovate, and to become a driving force in the Kingdom’s development and a contributor to the diversification of the national economy, taking it to the top of the world’s major economies.

As for the challenges that nations face in developing partnerships between public and private sector, Helal reiterated that ECA continues to encourage partnership with the private sector by creating an ideal environment for business and investment and offering advanced, sophisticated services to investors.

Speaking of best practices, Helal confirmed that ECA is working to bolster the role of the economic cities, developing them to become the most competitive places in which national, international and partnering investors can start their businesses, by guaranteeing that all incentives and facilities are made available to them, and ultimately paving the way for the economic cities to play a greater role in shaping the future of the Kingdom in all facets of strategic industries and businesses.

Helal concluded his presentation by highlighting the experience of public-private partnerships (PPP) in developing vital projects, the most important product of which to date is King Abdullah Port (KAP) at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), which sets the trend for a successful partnership between the public and private sectors.