Young Arab Leaders Forum examines key challenges facing Arab world

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, the Forum will explore how to harvest innovative ideas from the Arab world; the need for environmental sustainability in the region and how best to address development needs in the Arab world.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa. Chairman of Young Arab Leaders Annual Forum 2007 and CEO of Economic Development Board, Bahrain, said: "We are proud to host the Young Arab Leaders Annual Forum here in Bahrain, YAL has proven its capabilities in creating prosperity in the Arab world not only by creating global Arab leaders of responsibility, a force to build an impact-full network, but also in bridging communication with hundreds of Asian, American and European leaders across the globe."

At today's Hiwar Al Arab session, a discussion forum implemented by Al Arabiya and the Arab Thought Foundation, delegates debated how best to drive innovation in the Arab world, the essential elements required for the Arab world to become an innovation hub, managing and fostering innovation and its benefits for Arab youth as they look to future employment possibilities and opportunities.

Addressing a question on the reasons behind the lack of innovation in the Arab world, seventy seven per cent of participants believed that the absence of government support was the main reason. 56% said that innovators in the Arab world are low paid, 75% said that political leadership is most respected in the Arab world, where innovation took only 11% of the votes.

"Innovation and how best to encourage it is one of the most important issues affecting the economic and social future of the Arab world," said Rasha Al Saleh, Managing Director, Young Arab Leaders. "This dialogue examined the essential elements required for the region to become an innovation hub and the benefits, beyond the obvious, for economic growth and diversification.

Speakers at the session included Dr. Bassem Awadallah, Director of the office of his majesty King Abdullah II, Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan; Dr. Adnan Mjalli, president and CEO of Trans Tech Pharma, Jordan: Dr. Soliman Abdel Moneim, secretary general of Arab thought foundation, Egypt; and Abdul Rahman Al Oseil, Instructor, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The session was moderated by Tale Kanaan, presenter of Al Arabiya.

Young Arab Leaders (YAL) is an independent pan-Arab organization that aims to create a new generation of young leaders capable of actively participating in the region's development process and driving it into a new phase of growth. It is a network of the region's leaders from the business community, politics, academia, media, arts, culture and civil society, who are committed to improving the state of the Arab world.