Jeddah Economic Forum selects London Business School as academic partner for second year running

"We are delighted to be the Academic Partner for the Jeddah Economic Forum, which we consider to be the most important event of its kind in the Middle East," said Paul Oliver of London Business School. "2005 will be the second time that we have participated in this capacity. Our partnership last year was a very rewarding experience and led to a deeper understanding of the Saudi Arabian culture. Whilst the main objective of the Jeddah Economic Forum is to promote the long term development of Saudi Arabia, the event has become a key fixture in the global economic calendar. It attracts people from across the world, who gather to explore the diversity of different opinions which are exchanged in a constructive manner."

Mr. Paul Oliver, of the Centre of Management Development at London Business School, was on a two-week visit to the Kingdom working in conjunction with the Jeddah Marketing Board to finalise key elements of the Forum. Building upon the achievement of the 2004 event, Mr. Oliver will help Jeddah Marketing Board to develop the programme for the 2005 event. Mr Oliver emphasised that the objective of the Forum is to address significant economic issues in a way that creates tangible learning for participants "It is important for the participants to directly benefit from the Forum, and take away with them national, regional and international insights that are of real value," added Mr. Oliver.

Jeddah Marketing Board, organisers of Jeddah Economic Forum, select the broad theme of the Forum and then work with London Business School to develop the detailed curriculum of the event based on the local briefing earlier conducted. In 2005 the Forum's theme is 'Capacity Building: Developing People for Sustainable Growth'. The three day event will focus upon the practicalities of building a country's long term economic capacity, through the development of critical and essential factors. These range from internal stability, through education and human resource development, to the creation of international infrastructure.

"As the global economy becomes increasingly integrated, capacity building becomes very important for the economical and social health of the national economy. This year our main area of focus will be on the development of the capabilities of the Kingdom citizens, especially the youth," said Emad M. Mugharbel, CEO of the Jeddah Marketing Board. "There is a critical need to engage and develop the youth's potential and capabilities and bring them into the market place. More than 50% of the Saudi population are under the age of 27, this is a great opportunity for the further development of the Kingdom by investing in the competency building and training of this segment of society to bring them into the work force," he added.

As in previous years, the programme of the 2005 Forum will include keynote speeches and presentations by world leaders, prominent academics, economists and business leaders. Amongst the speakers there will be several academics from London Business School, including Professor Nirmalya Kumar and Professor Chris Earley, who has worked extensively with the Islamic Development Bank. Professor Earley has spent many years working in the region and will focus on the development of organisational culture and the value of Islam to the business world. For the first time the Jeddah Economic Forum will also host a series of open discussions and breakout sessions which will give smaller groups of delegates the opportunity to discuss key issues in detail to develop more promising outcomes.

Established in May 2000 by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Jeddah Marketing Board (JMB) is the events and marketing arm for the chamber and is responsible for the creation and organization of the region's 'think tank' one of the leading prestigious event hosted annually, the Jeddah Economic Forum. The Jeddah Marketing Board is currently chaired by leading businessman Mr Ghassan Al Sulaiman.