Qatar Airways hosts World Economic Forum Round Table

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Doha is the venue for the high-profile event, one of the biggest of the year in the Qatari capital.

Qatar Airways is playing a key role in organising the event, flying delegates from around the world to Doha where the airline is also hosting lavish dinners and cultural entertainment showcasing true Qatari hospitality.

The Round Table has brought together more than 200 global leaders from business, government, academia, society and the media to share their insights on commercial, political and economic developments in the region.

Government ministers, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab Business League and leading figures from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have been joined by CEOs, managing directors and chairmen of major companies from the region, as well as political media commentators.

Also participating are Ambassadors from various countries based in Doha.

The media will be at the centre of attention during a working lunch, Arab Media: Reinforcing Prejudices or Catalysing Reforms? in which the explosion of pan-Arab media and its role as a catalyst for reform will be discussed.

The Round Table is also the launch pad for the second Arab World Competitiveness Report 2005, which will outline issues of economic growth and regional competition. The Report will highlight the need for creating awareness among Arab business leaders and government officials to enhance competitiveness within the region and with rest of the world.

As a strategic partner of the World Economic Forum, Qatar Airways will host a second Arab Competitiveness Round Table in Doha in Spring 2007. The partnership also ensures Qatar Airways' participation at other events organised by the Forum.

Qatar Airways has been gearing up for the high-profile event for several months with banners strewn across the Qatari capital promoting the Round Table.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "This is one of the most important events being held in Qatar this year and we are pleased to be able to host such a high-profile Round Table that has attracted top political, economic and academic minds from around the world.

"The Middle East has emerged into a powerful economic trading region and it is vital for business and political leaders to share their thoughts on how we can remain competitive and enhance our global competitiveness.

"Qatar Airways is pleased to have entered into a strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum. This Round Table will also help establish Qatar as a pivotal policy centre in the Middle East."

Al Baker will take part in one of the sessions, Creating An Investment-friendly Climate In The Arab Region, joining economic and political experts from around the world on the panel discussion.

The opening session, entitled, What Will It Take for the Arab World to Catch Up in the Competitiveness Race? will launch the Forum's first-ever competitiveness ranking of Arab world countries, in which growth prospects for nations in the region will be identified.

Gender inequality is widely recognised for its negative impact on the economic growth and development of nations. This will be the subject of a session, Women as Dynamic Agents of Change in the Arab World: A Vision for 2020 where various Arab countries will address the issue.

Arab Free Trade: Are the Sceptics Right? will be debated by delegates as they probe how countries in the region have been prevented from moving aggressively on the path towards liberalisation and free trade.

Labour market reform has become a critical issue for countries in the region with population growth pushing unemployment rates to some of the highest levels in the world. How governments can create labour market policies to boost job creation will come under the microscope in the session, Diffusing the Unemployment Time Bomb.