Abu Dhabi hosts 2012 Family Businesses Forum

The Forum is the most prominent event as regards the activities of family businesses in the region and aims at highlighting opportunities existing in business projects in the UAE, Mid-Eastern countries, as well as in a number of EU countries, particularly the German-speaking ones.

The event is also intended to explore developing the role of family businesses in the economies of the region, difficulties being faced by such businesses and their contribution to bolstering the sustainable economic development process in those countries, in addition to exchanging the best practices and knowledge, not to mention exploring windows for joint business.

The Family Business Forum 2012 attracts a number to concerned senior officials, CEOs and leaders of family businesses, along with a number of investors and experts specialized in family businesses. This is with the objective of exchanging knowledge and getting acquainted with the best practices and experience in both the Middle East and Europe. The Forum is going to be joined by international experts from Harvard and Yale universities in the USA, 100 participants chairmen and owners of family businesses from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 50 participating family businesses' leaders and owners in the Middle East, together with 50 participants, including owners of businesses and chairmen of family businesses from the UAE and GCC countries.

The event's discussions will cover very important topics regarding the future and the role of family-owned businesses in countries where they operate. High-profile speakers are going to take part in the Forum, including HE Nasser Bin Ahmed Khalifa Alsowaidi, Chairman of the DED in Abu Dhabi, HE Mohammed Thani Murshid Al Rumaithi, President of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Chairman of the ADCCI, Mr. Khaled Suliman Olayan from the Olayan Group, KSA, HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Tatal Abu Ghazala Intellectual Property Group, Mr. Ghassan Nuqul, Nuqul Group, Mr. Samih Sawiris, Orascom Development Holding, Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Jalil Al Fahim, Al Fahim Group, besides a number of chairmen of family businesses in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the most important of which are: BMW, Henkel, Merck, Bahlsen, Pictet & Cie and Heraeus. These are viewed as major family-owned companies in those countries and are playing a pivotal, vital role in their economies.

Family businesses in both the Middle East and GCC States are one of the most important pillars of economic activities in those countries as they play a key role in accelerating economic growth and contribute actively to the process of economic development in such countries.

The Family Businesses Forum, which is due to be hosted by Abu Dhabi this year, is the fifth in a series of such events held over past years in a number of Arab countries.