Jordan Times
Sunday, May 16, 2004
By Rami Abdelrahman
Dead Sea — The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Young Arab Leaders (YAL) group announced Saturday its action plan as part of its “roadmap” to develop the region's human resources.According to YAL Chairman Mohammad Gargawi from Dubai, the action plan aims to build pride in Arab heritage, rebuild confidence in its ability to achieve goals, motivate youth to work diligently towards achievements and engage in specific YAL programmes offering Arab role models for youth.
Noting that 60 per cent of the Arab population is under 20, he said more than 80 million employment opportunities will be needed by 2020 to keep regional growth at its current pace.
“A comprehensive study on the contribution of different factors to any society's growth and development has revealed that 64 per cent could be attributed to human capital factors, and less than 16 per cent could be attributed to physical infrastructure factors,” said Gargawi.
The YAL will fill this gap, according to Gargawi, by providing several platforms and opportunities for nurturing and developing Arab human capital in the future.
During WEF meetings on Saturday, the issue of unemployment in the Arab world was a major focus of discussion, as a topic crucial to the forum's deliberations on regional reforms. Arab leaders participanting in the forum have repeatedly stressed that such problems should be resolved from within, but allow for support of Arab initiatives from other countries.
Mustafa Abdelwadoud, a YAL board member from Egypt, said the group will provide Arab solutions for Arab unemployment problems, stressing the YAL's financing will be provided internally through membership and sponsorship fees.
During a YAL general assembly meeting held at the east bank of the Dead Sea, the YAL's constitution and code of conduct were approved.
“We have started with six members who developed the code of conduct, constitution and bylaws of YAL. Today we have 25 members planning to have meetings with Arab youth and communities. We have agreed to provide awards for enterprenuers, conduct research on productivity and economic performance of young Arab enterprises — we have two years to do this,” Abdelwadoud added.
Abdelwadoud said YAL realises that Arab countries need different solutions to their problems, but there are common problems in all countries which his group plans to tackle, adding that the YAL will have individual country-based leaders setting home-made programmes.
The process of identifying young Arab leaders has already begun across the Middle East, according to the WEF. However, the plan is to identify emerging leaders from all walks of life who are currently under the age of 43.
Gargawi concluded saying the group will open chapters across the Arab world to help implement the strategy and provide a wider platform for communicating with both potential young Arab leaders and the Arab population.