World Economic Forum launches 'Young Arab Leaders' community at Annual Meetings in Davos

The new group aims to galvanize a predominantly young population from across the Arab world to work for change and provide hope and confidence in the future.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman, Dubai Development and Investment Authority, United Arab Emirates has been named to chair this new community, while Hakam Kanafani, Chief Executive Officer, Palestine Cellular Communications, Palestine Authority is the Vice-Chair. Other members of the Executive Committee are: Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, Managing Director, EFG-Hermes Investment Banking, Egypt; Aseela Al Harthy of Oman; Sheikha Hanadi Al Thani of Qatar; and Habib Al Ghawi of ADECO, Jordan.

The new Executive Committee is to launch a drive to recruit some 100 under-45s across the Arab society who are champions and potential leaders who will strive fo a new and brighter future of the Arab world. The community will include business leaders, government officials, sportspeople, civil society leaders, journalists, musicians, artists, authors and academics.

Speaking at an initial meeting held in conjunction with the Davos gathering, Gergawi said: 'Over 60% of our society comprise young people under the age of 25. Most of these youth, who have in the past couple of years passed through tumultuous times, need to be given a new positive direction, one that emerges from within the youth of the region. The Young Arab Leaders will promote champions and role models to inspire our youth in their effort to build a new heritage for the Arab world that will be in line with our cultural traditions and engage seamlessly with the global community.'

Gergawi further announced the first initiative of the new community - The Arab World 2010 Report. He explained: 'The report will provide a snapshot of how the region will look at the end of the decade and thus bring into focus the challenges we face due to growing populations, stagnating economies and the huge issue of unemployment.' It will be released at the World Economic Forum summit to be held in Jordan in mid-May 2004.

Supporting the new community, Frédéric Sicre, Managing Director, World Economic Forum said: 'We are very excited. The Executive Committee, which includes two young Arab women, is fully capable of driving the much required change on the ground. We will provide all the support that the young leaders need.'

Speaking at the launch meeting, Kanafani said: 'Young Arab leaders do not carry any of the baggage of the past and will look to the future with hope and confidence. We know what is wrong with our society and we also know how to set it right. Our young leaders, who are exposed to the best that the world has to offer in terms in education and experience, will drive the change needed to grapple with the challenges that we face today and tomorrow.'