JEDDAH, 18 January 2003 — The Jeddah Economic Forum's first ever full-fledged women's forum opens this morning with an address by Princess Sara Bint Abdelmohsen Al-Angari, wife of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed.
She will be followed by Princess Lulwa Al-Faisal, who is speaking on "The past and future of Saudi women in business." Christine McCafferty, a British Member of Parliament, will follow with a presentation on "The Developing role of businesswomen in the UK."
The morning session will conclude with a speech by Lebanese Member of Parliament Bahia Hariri.
The next session will begin with the keynote address by Mervat M. Tallawy, executive secretary of UN Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia, with Dr. Haifa Reda Jamalallail, dean of Effat College, Jeddah, as the moderator.
Dr. Carol O'Connor, director, Vision in Practice, will speak next on "Strategic leadership for business needs," with Maha Ahmed Zaki Yamani as the moderator.
The post-lunch session will have lectures on the "Role of e-Commerce in developing business" by Lindiwe Hendricks, deputy minister of the department of trade and industry in South Africa, and by Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, CEO, Tejari.com, UAE, with Samar Fatani as the moderator.
Dr. Nahed M. Taher, senior economist at the National Commercial Bank, will be the moderator of a lecture by Dr. Thuraya Al-Arrayed, planning adviser, Saudi Aramco affairs, on the "Role of modern technology and work opportunities for women." The lecture will include a case study of a pioneering experience at Saudi Aramco.
Taking part in a panel discussion on the developing role of new technology and employment opportunities for Saudi women will be Princess Arwa Fahad Al-Saud, general manager of a business establishment, Khawla A.H. Lootah, managing director of the UAE-based World Space, Dr. Carol O'Connor, director of Vision in Practice, and Dr. Nahed M. Taher, senior economist, NCB.
