JEDDAH, 29 December 2004 — Preparations are under way for the 6th annual Jeddah Economic Forum, whose theme is capacity building. “The theme will focus on developing people for sustainable growth,” JEF 2005 Chairman Amr Enany told a press conference at Jeddah Hilton last night.
Enany and Jeddah Marketing Board Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Emad M. Mugharbel said invitations had been extended to the top leadership of some countries to be among the keynote and other speakers. Those who have confirmed their participation are Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, Malaysia Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade and one of the senior ministers from Brazil. They will be addressing the forum alongside national and regional leaders.
The three-day sessions from Feb. 19-21 will take place at the Jeddah Hilton and will have the participation of 2,000 delegates.
“The sessions will simultaneously discuss national, regional and international economic issues and highlight the achievements of countries that have pursued strategies for human resource development as a prerequisite for sustainable growth,” Enany said.
The forum will present success stories in countries like Ireland, Singapore, Dubai, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt, aside from those of local businessmen.
Registration of delegates opened some time ago. The delegate fee is $1,500 for men and $750 for women. “First organized in 2000, the JEF has become the region’s strategic think tank focusing on local, regional and economic and social issues,” he said. London Business School is the academic partner of the event for the second year.
Chaired by Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) Vice Chairman Ghassan Al-Sulaiman and a leading businessman, the Jeddah Marketing Board (JMB) is the organizing body of the JEF. Mugharbel leads JMB, an organization within the JCCI.
Enany noted that there had been active participation of women speakers and delegates for the past four years.
Distinguished participants at previous JEF events have included former US Presidents George Bush, Sr., and Bill Clinton, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, former Malaysian Prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammed former British Prime Minister John Major, Bahrain Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad, Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Al-Rabheb and former Russian prime minister and president of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the Russian Federation, Yevgeny Primakov, aside from local businessman Alwaleed ibn Talal, Olayan Financing Company CEO Lubna Olayan and Tijari.Com CEO Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi.
