Less prominent figures to be at 10th JEF this year
Posted by Arab News
Galal Fakkar | Arab News
Friday 5 February 2010 (20 Safar 1431)


JEDDAH: The 10th Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) is to feature less prominent public figures and former politicians than in the past.

The emphasis will be on specialists and experts who will tackle a number of issues relating to the global economy in 2020, Abdulaziz Saqer, chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), which is organizing the event, confirmed on Tuesday.

“We have this year focused on more specific speakers in order to give the forum a more specialized nature,” he said.

He said about 36 speakers from various countries including Britain, the United States, Germany, Sweden and others have confirmed their participation at the event, which is being held at the Hilton Hotel on Feb. 13-16. Over 1,200 people are expected to attend.

Speakers include Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury Neal Wolin, Swedish Minister of Trade Ewa Helena Bjorling and President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development Kanayo Nwanze, among others.

He said Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and a number of ministers will address the forum.

In addition, local speakers will also present at the event, including the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Muhammad Al-Jasser, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Saleh Kamel, among others.

According to Saqer, the forum will tackle nine subjects including the world economy, currency, banks and the financial sector, energy, trade, food security, science and technology, education and health.

He said academics would feature prominently at the forum, accounting for around 15 percent of participants.

Saqer said all logistic arrangements, including entry visas for attendees, have been completed.

He said the GRC center signed a contract with the JCCI to organize the forum this year and could be asked to handle the event for the next few years if it is a success.


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