Prominent speakers from the U.S. and Arab world to address U.S.-Arab Economic Forum

Supported by the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce and USAID, the Arab League and the Gulf Co-operation Council, the USAEF 2006 will focus on improving economic ties and economic development as a source of societal change.

The U.S.-Arab Economic Forum is pleased to announce additional confirmed speakers for the 2006 event. In addition to bringing energy issues to the forefront with CEOs from Shell Oil Company, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Company as well as the Qatari Energy Minister and other high officials, the USAEF will address key issues including: transparency and accountability in governance and finance; human capacity building; trade infrastructure; public-private partnerships and empowering women through economics. Our latest list of confirmed speakers include*:

H.E. Amre Moussa
Secretary General
League of Arab States

H.E. Amr A. Al-Dabbagh
Governor
Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority

C. David Welch
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State

H.E. Dr. Bouthaina Younes Shaaban
Minister of Expatriates
Republic of Syria

Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
Religions for Peace

Ambassador Shaun Donnelly
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe & the Middle East
Office of the United States Trade Representative

Dr. Mustapha Nabli
Chief Economist and Director
The World Bank

*Additional speakers to be announced in the coming weeks.

The USAEF's Strategic Partners are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar. Strategic Sponsors of the USAEF include BTU Ventures, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, WEDGE Group and Shell Oil Company.

Synergy sponsors include Comerica Bank, Daimler Chrysler, Dubai Properties, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Marathon Oil Corporation.

Building on the success of first U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, which attracted six of the Fortune 10 corporate heads, then Secretary of State Colin Powell and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al- Faisal among other key speakers, the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum 2006 promises to be the premier event for high-level dialogue between the U.S. and Arab World.