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Jeddah Economic Forum
The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce led a business delegation from the UK to participate in the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), which took place on 13-16 February in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A forum held annually since 1999 during winter in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It has become the Middle East’s strategic think tank focusing on regional and international economic and social issues. The Jeddah Economic Forum is organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board, which is a part of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The 2010 Jeddah Economic Forum took as its theme, “The Global Economy in 2020."
The Jeddah Economic Forum highlighted the strategies required and anticipated for global economic development and growth, and managed to bring together leading decision-makers, experts, businessmen and academics to discuss the outlook for the world economy in the next ten years in the key sectors of banking and finance, energy and the environment, trade, agriculture, industry, education, health, and science and technology.
Experts and officials are debating the end of the global economic crisis of the 21st century, and where and when the recovery is gradually taking place. In contrast to looking at the current implications and causes, the Economic Forum aimed to look beyond the current crisisat the shape and leading characteristics of the next phase of global growth, which will be well underway ten years from now. To be able to anticipate developments and take advantage of opportunities, the focus has to be on the state of the global economy in the next decade.
Meeting with HE Sheikh Saleh Kamel
The opening of the Economic Jeddah Forum was addressedby the Governor of Mecca region, HRH Prince Khalid Bin Faisal al-Saud, Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center (GRC), H.E. Sheikh Saleh Kamel,Chairman of the Board, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and H.E. Abdullah Ahmad Zainal Alireza, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During the Forum debates focused on the various parallel shifts that had taken place in the global economy and the relative importance in the upcoming decade
(left to right) Mr Mazen Batterjee VC Jeddah Chamber of Commerce with Dr. Afnan Al-Shuaiby
During the visit to Jeddah Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General and CEO, met with H E Sheikh Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Council of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce, Chairman of the Federation of the Gulf Chambers of Commerce, Chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Board, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Discussions focused on closer working between the ABCC and the Saudi Chambers and the development of the Young Professionals Programme. The visit also provided an opportunity to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding that the ABCC has with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and to consider future joint activities.
While in Jeddah for the Jeddah Economic Forum, Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby, Secretary General & CEO of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, attended a reception at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). During the occasion she met the president of KAUST, Professor Choon Fong Shih, and took the opportunity to discuss future cooperation between the two organisations. On behalf of the ABCC, Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby invited the KAUST president to visit the premises of the chamber and he indicated his intention to do this at the earliest opportunity.
Prof Shoon Fong Shih, President of KAUST with Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby
