Jeddah Economic Forum welcomes Former President William Jefferson Clinton

Now recognised as one of the premier events of the region's business calendar, the forum will examine many of the issues raised for global businesses and their employees following the September 11 attacks on the US. The announcement was made today at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

The 42nd President of the United States will head a range of high-level corporate and political leaders, who will address the challenges in cross cultural operations, conflict prevention, crisis communications, and the need to develop through diplomatic and commercial ties greater levels of understanding and tolerance between people of different cultures and religions.

Organised by the Jeddah Marketing Board (JMB), the forum will have as speakers and participants HH Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, David O'Reilly, the chairman and CEO of ChevronTexaco, Dr. Ray Irani, the chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum, Howard Paster, the chairman and CEO of the Hill & Knowlton Group, and David Rubenstein, the chairman of the Carlyle Group.

The JMB has also invited participation from selected Saudi government and business leaders including HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, the secretary general of the Saudi Arabian Supreme Council for Tourism (and the first Muslim astronaut), HH Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki, the Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, and Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, the Saudi Minister of Commerce Osama Fakieh, Minister of Haj Iyad Madani, Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi, Minister of Industry and Electricity Hashim Abdullah Yamani have also been invited.

This year's forum sees a range of sponsors from across the region's businesses, including the Kingdom Holding Co. - which is the umbrella sponsor for the 2002 Jeddah Economic Forum - the Abdul Lateef Jameel Group, the Jeraisy Group, the Al-Juffali Group, the National Commercial Bank, the Saudi American Bank, the Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) - the official broadcaster for the 2002 Jeddah Economic Forum - the Saudi Research and Publishing Company (SRPC) - the official publisher for the Jeddah Economic Forum - and the Al-Rajhi Exchange.

The 2002 Jeddah Economic Forum will be the largest to date, said Amr Dabbagh, the chairman of the JMB. 'This year's event has a rich and diverse range of speakers representing a very broad range of the world's commercial perspectives. They will examine many of the issues raised for global businesses and their employees around the world in the aftermath of the terrible events of September 11. To discuss the implications for corporate leaders who need to address the challenges of cross cultural operations, conflict prevention, and the development of greater understanding and tolerance between people of different cultures and religions.

'Delegates can expect incisive presentations followed by lively panel discussions and debates. The forum has captured the attention of international and local businessmen and continues to grow in importance and stature.'