2002 Jeddah Economic Forum judged a great success

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The forum, held between Jan. 19-21, saw one of the most impressive speaker line-ups in years, with former President of the United States William Jefferson Clinton, and HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the most powerful businessmen in the world. More than 850 male and female delegates from some 30 countries attended the event.

Called "Managing in a Complex Global Environment" the forum's US and Saudi dominated series of speakers and discussants were to explore and discuss some of the challenges facing global and local business after the September 11 attacks on the US and subsequent world events. "The forum rose to the challenge. Honest and open opinions and feelings were aired with Saudi businessmen and media discussing matters of real importance both affecting the local Saudi economy and internationally." said Amr Dabbagh, the chairman of the Jeddah Marketing Board (JMB), which organised the event.

For the first time local and international media were allowed into the forum for the full three days of the event. "The press had unrestricted access to the forum and its speakers, who could be approached formally through the question and answer sessions or informally over lunch or coffee," continued Amr Dabbagh.

The 2002 Jeddah Economic Forum saw a range of Saudi and US speakers giving a series of very frank and open opinions on world issues. Former US President Clinton spoke on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating that there must be a Palestinian State alongside Israel. HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal discussed the problems facing Saudi society and focussed on job creation and attracting foreign investment to the Kingdom. HH Prince Salman bin Hamid Al-Khalifa, the crown prince of Bahrain, identified the issues facing the gulf region, and on the need for economic unity to face the rest of the world.

Several top executives took part including David Rubenstein, one of the founding partners of the Carlyle Group, Howard Paster, the chairman and CEO of the Hill & Knowlton Group, and Dr. Ray Irani, the chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum. The forum was sponsored by some of Saudi Arabia's best-known companies, including the Kingdom Holding Co. - which was the umbrella sponsor for the 2002 Jeddah Economic Forum - the Saudi Binladin Group, the Abdullatif Jameel Group, the Saudi American Bank, the National Commercial Bank, the Al-Rajhi Commercial Foreign Exchange, the Jeraisy Group, Dallah Al-Baraka, E.A. Juffali & Brothers, and the Saudi Cable Company.

"This year's forum really highlighted the leading role of Jeddah in the region's economic life," concluded Amr Dabbagh. "It put a spotlight on the most important issues facing global businessmen and companies today and on the part the Kingdom has to play in addressing these challenges."