CAIRO, 17 November 2007 — The Arab Business Council of the World Economic Forum (ABC) will gather for its fourth annual meeting in Cairo, Egypt from today. The two-day annual meeting will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Ahmed Mahmoud Nazif of Egypt. The meeting will bring together over 170 leading business, government and public personalities from 25 countries across the region.
The ABC is a World Economic Forum initiative formed by top Arab CEOs in 2003 to advance the economic and governance reform agenda through collaborative partnerships between business leaders and government. The ABC has made a significant effort to boost competitiveness in the Arab world. This year’s annual meeting will focus on six main topics: Trade, competitiveness, investment, education, innovation and a regional focus.
The annual meeting of the ABC provides a unique opportunity for leading business executives, government officials, and thought and opinion leaders to gather for a frank exchange of views on the most pressing issues affecting the Arab world. Through formal discussions in the meeting sessions, as well as informal discussions among participants on the sidelines, the deliberations of the ABC will help set the policy agenda in economies throughout the region. “The selection of Cairo as the location for this year’s event is a strong vote of confidence in the impressive economic reforms the Egyptian government has put in place, and reflects Egypt’s leadership role in the Arab world,” said M. Shafik Gabr, chairman of the Arab Business Council.
Sherif El Diwany, director, head of Middle East, World Economic Forum, added, “The Arab Business Council of the World Economic Forum has become a recognized, authoritative voice of Arab business. It provides insights on specific reforms that are needed to leverage private investment. In a concerted dialogue with Arab governments and multilateral bodies such as the G-8, the ABC is able to pinpoint the key areas to guide international assistance in support of reform. Today, one can say with a great deal of confidence that the economic reform agenda across the Arab world is well defined and irreversible. As we look forward, the Arab Business Council will be able a play more significant role in the integration of Arab economies into the global market and increase the engagement of Arab businesses in global corporate citizenship.”
