Chairman Sami Bahrawi launches first ever interactive Jeddah Economic Forum

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan will deliver a special keynote address at the conclusion of the opening day, Sunday 25th February. Plenary Speakers will include: HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; The Hon Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E. Lech Walesa, former President of Poland; H.E. Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan; The Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, former Prime Minister of Canada; Minister Liu Jiangfeng from China; General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Mr Peder Wallenberg, Founder of Carpe Vitam and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, UK Chair of the Saudi-British Business Council.

Sami Bahrawi, Chairman of the Jeddah Economic Forum said,

'Our speakers have been carefully chosen to address the themes of the Forum with authority and experience. They are all influential global figures and the 2007 Jeddah Economic Forum is honored to host them.'

Sue MacGregor of the BBC and Alastair Stewart of the Independent Television News, two renowned media personalities from the United Kingdom, will facilitate interactive hour-long 'Moving Forward' segments in each Forum session. JEF Delegates will also have the opportunity of expressing their opinions on key issues by using personal Electronic Survey equipment, supplied by IML Ltd in London.

Under the patronage of HRH Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Mecca Region, the theme for the three-day forum is 'Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons'. The six half-day sessions are: 'Strategies for Economic Reform: Universalism vs. Particularism'; 'Flexicurity in Reform: A Balanced Social Agenda' ; 'People are at the Centre: Social Responsibility & Citizenship Initiative'; 'The Legal Structure must keep up'; 'Changing the Global Energy Paradigm' and 'Privatization: The Indispensable Tool'.

'The 2007 Forum will point the way to the economic future for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf,' Bahrawi said. 'Our vision is to set the standards and process for national, regional and economic development for the Gulf and beyond.'

Held from February 24 - 27, 2007 at the Jeddah Hilton, the Forum is organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board that operates under the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Emaar: the Economic City is the Partner Sponsor for Jeddah Economic Forum for the second year in a row. The Jeddah Economic Forum Lead Sponsors this year include: Saudi Research and Marketing Group (Official Print Media), CNBC Al Arabiya (Official Broadcast Media), National Commercial Bank, Xenel Group. Diamond Sponsors this year are: Saudi Arabian Airlines (Official Carrier) and Budget Rent a Car (Official Transport Solution Provider). Gold Sponsors include: Al Madinah Printing Press and Medunet. The Gala Dinner is sponsored by Al Jamal Group of Companies and the silver sponsor is Global Economy.

London Business School (LBS), one of world's leading graduate management schools is the academic partner for Jeddah Economic Forum. This is the third time London Business School has partnered with Jeddah Economic Forum as the academic partner. Effat College is the strategic planner of the Jeddah Economic Forum.

Known as 'The Think Tank of the Middle East', Jeddah Economic Forum is held under the patronage of HRH Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Makkah Region, and is organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board, a department of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. It will draw more than 2000 delegates from around the world.