Jordan Times
Friday, May 15, 2009
Global crisis imposes itself
on WEF agenda
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN - Amidst the current global economic downturn and its ramifications on the
Middle East, the World Economic Forum (WEF) will open today to address the
various aspects of the crisis, along with other long-standing challenges.
His Majesty King Abdullah will inaugurate the forum with a speech tackling major
challenges facing the region, with focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict and
efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region.
Held this year under the theme, "Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for
the Middle East Home-grown Strategies for Success", the forum attracts over
1,300 Arab and world political, business and civil society leaders, strategists
and experts.
Participants will look into three pillars, namely ways to overcome the crisis
and restore growth, a new science and research agenda and the shifting
geopolitical landscape towards soft power approaches.
Pressing issues on the table include the measures the countries of the region
need to introduce to render their economies more resilient and positioned for
growth.
Officials in Amman have earlier said the number of participants in the WEF, held
for the fifth time in Jordan, is unprecedented compared to previous sessions,
highlighting the timing of the annual gathering and the significance of the
issues to be discussed.
Means to address the region's pressing social, economic and environmental
challenges while boosting its competitiveness globally will also be tackled in a
session during the WEF, where attention will also be paid to innovation and
technological proficiency as essential sources of future growth, as well as to
the future of the region's energy industry.
One debate will bring together leading scientists from the region and the
diaspora to engage decision makers in a dialogue on a forward-looking agenda for
science and research in the Middle East, according to the forum's website.
Ways to address the future of the industry in light of energy price volatility
will also be debated by leading energy strategists and their counterparts in
government and academia during the annual meeting.
Experts will also focus on energy security, the business case for scaling up
alternative energies and energy-water linkages, according to the website.
Other issues scheduled to be discussed include closing gender gaps, healthcare
services and infrastructure in the Middle East, sustainability in the Middle
East, the probability of transforming educational systems in the region into
catalysts of innovation, entrepreneurial behaviour and critical thinking, among
others.
WEF also features this year a financial services summit that will focus on
sharing knowledge and innovation across themes ranging from financial market
architecture and climate change to emerging market infrastructure.
WEF, which is an independent, international organisation incorporated as a Swiss
not-for-profit foundation, was first conceived in January 1971 when a group of
European business leaders met under the patronage of the European Commission and
European industrial associations. German-born Klaus Schwab, then-professor of
business policy at the University of Geneva, chaired the gathering, which took
place in Davos, Switzerland.