World Economic Forum on Middle East draws over 1,200 leaders to Jordan in May

Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, discussions will focus on the theme "Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for the Middle East: Home-grown Strategies for Success".

"The meeting comes at a crucial time for the Middle East and is an opportunity for participants to discuss the region's response to the global economic crisis in concrete terms. The Forum believes that only by bringing together decision-makers representing all sectors of society - business, politics, civil society, culture, media and academia - can sustainable solutions to the current challenges be found."

said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

"Jordan is proud to welcome the World Economic Forum once again, especially as the countries of our region confront the effects of the global financial crisis," said His Majesty King Abdullah Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. "The World Economic Forum is always a source of inspiration for those who work to advance development in our region and tap into the vast potential of our young people."

Business leaders who will participate include:
Samir Brikho, Chief Executive Officer, Amec, United Kingdom; Chey Jae-Won, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SK Group, Republic of Korea; Esam Janahi, Chairman, Gulf Finance House, Bahrain; Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Heidrick & Struggles, USA; Ibrahim S. Dabdoub, Group Chief Executive Officer, National Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait, and Chair of the Arab Business Council; Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair, Chief Executive Officer, Mashreqbank, United Arab Emirates; Lubna S. Olayan, Deputy Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Olayan Financing Company, Saudi Arabia; and Hussain J. Al Nowais, Chairman and Managing Director, Emirates Holdings, United Arab Emirates. Please click here for an abridged list of participants.

Leaders from government will include: Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan; Adil Abd Al-Mahdi, Vice-President of Iraq; Abbas El Fassi, Prime Minister of Morocco; H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; and Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. There will also be representation from the United States.

To facilitate discussions, the meeting's programme is based on three pillars:

- Overcoming Crisis, Restoring Growth
- The New Science and Research Agenda
- The Shifting Geopolitical Landscape; Towards Soft Power Approaches

Beyond economic and geopolitical issues, particular attention will be paid to innovation and technological proficiency as essential sources of future growth, as well as to the future of the region's energy industry in light of price volatility.