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Middle East Leaders show leadership for change and development

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East closed with a commitment to show leadership for change and development in the region. As the three-day meeting came to a close, participants – 1,400 leaders from 85 countries – were challenged to implement at least two of the action items that emerged from discussions which included:

• Energy – increase conservation; develop alternative energies; and utilize smart grids.

• Youth – with 65% of the Arab world’s population under the age of 25, the region must develop this bulge by providing them with education and developing, retaining and attracting talent.

Over 50 participants including H.M. Queen Rania also joined the Davos Debates in the Middle East on YouTube answering the question about the importance of role models. Morocco will host the next World Economic Forum on the Middle East on 22-24 October 2010 in Marrakech. All plenary sessions can be watched as video on demand on Mogulus

Reforms not rescue packages needed for the Middle East

Business and government leaders from the Middle East put pushing ahead with reforms as the key to weathering the global economic crisis in the region.

“This is not about a rescue package,” said Rachid Rachid, Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry. “The real big story is reform, change and managing the transition,” he told leaders gathered at the 2009 World Economic Forum on the Middle East.

Watch the session and read the press release.

Kerry challenges leaders to stop paying an "extremism premium"

“There is an extremism premium that is being paid across the planet and we all believe this is a moment of opportunity, and the question is whether we’re going to seize it,” said John F. Kerry, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senator from Massachusetts (Democrat), USA, at a plenary session on security at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East.

He told leaders that the “greatest security challenge comes back to less of an economic challenge and more of a political challenge that we are facing.” The Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies at the heart of this political challenge. “And that’s what makes this moment so special. If we can tone down the rhetoric in the street and prepare people for peace, the climate for business in the future will change dramatically, and that will empower us in all other places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan,” Kerry continued.

“I think we are delighted to hear of the commitment of the new US administration to devote attention to the solution of the [Israeli-Palestinian] issue that could be the deadly cancer of humankind,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. The panellists agreed that issues of human security are complex and must go hand in hand with politics, while business and political leaders have to partner to solve all these issues.

“Governments by themselves cannot give us solutions and it’s a matter of partnership in order to promote development. There are a lot of challenges that have to be faced now in this crisis in order for the Arab world to emerge stronger,” said Hanadi N. Al Thani, Founder and Chairperson, Amwal, Qatar. She stressed the region’s youth must be empowered to bolster security, as they account for a third of the Arab world’s population.

Values are a crucial factor for future prosperity and peace, said H.H. Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Economic Development Board of Bahrain. “A value system that underpins a decision-making process is the most important thing,” he said.

Prime Minister Ahmed Mahmoud Nazif of Egypt agreed that cultural differences are growing and driving people apart, “even within borders where ethnic, religious or tribal differences are a big threat to security and development … Whatever we’ve been doing has fostered extremism on all sides. We need to reverse this and I take it back to the fact that you can only do so by giving people a stake, making the moderates dominant and investing in things like employment and infrastructure.”

Watch the session and read the press release

King Abdullah calls for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The King of Jordan, H.M. King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, opened the World Economic Forum on the Middle East by calling on Israel to join Arab states in committing to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasized the Arab Peace Initiative as the best way to move forward: “Negotiated settlement, that will finally end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, which meets the legitimate right of the Palestinians to freedom and statehood and offers Israel the security guarantees and normal relations it needs,” he told over 1,400 regional and world leaders gathered at the Dead Sea for the three-day meeting.

“We have committed. So, now, must Israel. The Arab Peace Initiative has offered Israel a place in the neighbourhood and more: acceptance by 57 nations, the one-third of the UN members that do not recognize Israel. This is true security – security that barriers and armed forces cannot bring,” the King said.

He urged leaders to work together to find answers to the economic crisis that has impacted the region. “Answers that not simply help our countries get through the global economic downturn, but ensure the region emerges as a powerhouse: the go-to place for opportunity and wealth-building and a determining factor in reshaping the global economy,” he said.

Read the press release here.

Impact journeys take YGLs into heart of Jordan

The Forum’s Young Global Leaders spent a day travelling throughout Jordan, visiting three local organizations—the Jordan River Foundation, Madrasati and Ruwwad—to learn more about the challenges the country is facing and its obstacles to sustainable development.

Read what YGLs like Josh Spear, Chad Hurley, David de Rothschilds, John Hope Bryant and H.M. Queen Rania had to say about their experiences.

In a summary plenary back at the Dead Sea, the YGLs committed to ongoing involvement in the Jordanian organizations, from serving as mentors to Jordan’s youth to helping organizations create partnerships around the globe to scale up their initiatives.

Learn more

Focus on leadership as Queen Rania opens YGL Dead Sea Summit

Jordan’s inspired and inspiring leadership has made the country a beacon of hope, and today Her Majesty Queen Rania shared that light as she welcomed the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders with a message of encouragement, saying they "have the prestige and potential to transform people's lives.”

She also urged action: “At a time when the global financial crisis is fast becoming a development emergency, we need you to put your ideas into action more than ever before."

The fifth YGL Summit takes place over five days in Jordan, during which Young Global Leaders will incubate the insights and relationships that will help them lead their organizations and communities through the current global crisis.

The YGL community is an unparalleled, globally diverse network of peers from all segments of society. The community has proven experience and specific expertise in collaborating across traditional divides to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Learn more, visit their website.

Two New Faces Join Group of Middle East Social Entrepreneurs

Two new social entrepreneurs with significant impact in the region have been recognized by the Schwab Foundation - an affiliate of the World Economic Forum - as winners of the Middle East Regional Social Entrepreneurs 2009. Naif Al Mutawa, Founder and Chairman of Teshkeel Media Group Kuwait, and Ziad Al Refai, Chief Executive Officer, Tamweelcom, Jordan, will join other leading social entrepreneurs at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, 15-17 May 2009. Naif Al Mutawa is being awarded for creating cartoon superheroes, "The 99", who fight against prejudice around the world - Ziad Al Refai's award is for his work as the Middle East's top microfinancier. Click here for profiles of the winners

This group of social entrepreneurs from the Middle East and from Brazil,Cambodia, Germany, Turkey and the United Kingdom will be active participants in the discussions at the forthcoming meeting. Their primary focus is not maximizing profit, but maximizing benefits for society and the environment. They aim to develop innovative pro-poor business models in energy efficiencies, education, waste management, health, education, youth, and rural development, among others.

Expectations for the World Economic Forum on the Middle East

Co-chairs and strategic partners of the Forum explain their expectations for the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held at the Dead Sea in Jordan 15-17 May 2009.

For more information go to http://www.weforum.org/middleeast2009. World leaders will also participate in the Davos Debates on the Middle East http://tr.im/DavosDebates.

Twitter Interview with Queen Rania

H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, who signed up to Twitter a week ago (http://twitter.com/QueenRania) has conducted her first Twitter interview. Queen Rania’s Twitter has been well received in the Middle East.

On the occasion of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held at the Dead Sea in Jordan from 15 - 17 May 2009 Her Majesty has answered five questions from the general public via her Twitter account (@QueenRania). Since she was not be able to answer all the questions received, we put the 40 questions to a public vote. Her Majesty's replies to the top five questions are below.

@QueenRania 1) When do you think humanity will find out that we are all equals and that God is only one, regardless the name we call Him?

@davos 1) I think humanity knows. R’mber how world united after tsunami? The knowledge is there, we just need the will to act. #jordan09

@QueenRania 2) Do you see the opportunity to bring East and West closer together by bridging education closer with technology?

@davos 2)Yes. New cultures, languages, and experiences r just a click away, which means all our children can be digital diplomats. #jordan09

@QueenRania 3) What 3 or 4 words would you chose as a message to the whole world? (or to question the whole world with)? (via @RulaMughrabi)

@davos 3) Bring down the walls. #jordan09

@QueenRania 4) There's an underlying negative sentiment for Jordanians of Palestinian origin among Jordanians. R u aware of this phenomenon?

@davos 4b) I’m proud of Jordan’s diversity & reputation for welcoming those in need. #jordan09

@davos 4a) Personal prejudice will always exist. But this by no means maj sentiment. #jordan09

@QueenRania 5) Should the global community prioritize humanitarian issues? What top 2 priorities 4 humanitarian movement? (via @sgbulfone)

@davos 5) Absolutely. Globally, it’s the 8 MDGs. For my region, it’s an end to conflict and quality education for all. #jordan09

20 Youth to meet Leaders at World Economic Forum on the Middle East

British Council Global Changemakers will participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held 15-17 May at the

Dead Sea in Jordan. During the Forum, the 20 teenagers will meet with the region’s most influential business and political leaders and lend a grass-roots perspective to the Forum’s proceedings. The participating youth will represent the voice of their generation.

The Global Changemakers are a select group of youth (between the ages of 16 and 25) who have demonstrated a significant track record of achievement in their local communities through social entrepreneurship, community activism, and voluntary work. In the week preceding the Forum, the Changemakers will gather in Amman for 4 days of intensive workshops with experts and policymakers to shape the recommendations they make to the leaders attending the Forum.

 

The youth will share their experiences at the Forum with a wider audience including schools and students worldwide. Check out their website, their YouTube channel for video posts and their blog for their reports from the meeting.