Sharjah Ruler to inaugurate MENA Economic Forum at AUS

The forum brings together prominent European and Arab government officials, decision-makers, investors, industry leaders and members of the media who will be sharing their expertise and vision.

The event also represents an important dimension of the collaboration between the City of Marseille and the Emirate of Sharjah within the private, educational and cultural sectors.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah will give the welcome remarks, followed by a speech to be delivered by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The inaugural speech will be followed by an opening session entitled 'Transitions: How Can the West and the GCC Cooperate and Meet Future Challenges?' This session will consist of two panels.

The first panel will comprise senior government officials from the region and beyond, including Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, UAE; Yamina Benguigui, Minister for Francophone Affairs, France; Philippe Douste-Blazy, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations, and Former Minister, France; Cherif Rahmani, Minister of Industry, Algeria; Yousef Amrani, Minister-Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Morocco; Riyadh Bettaieb, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Tunisia; Jack Lang, President of the Arab World institute, and Former Minister, France; Fahad Al Attiya, Chairman, Qatar National Food and Security Programme, Qatar. Emmanuel Bonne, Special Advisor in Charge of MENA and UN, French Presidency, France, will also be present on the occasion.

The second panel will comprise prominent expert speakers, including Salim Al Owais, Chairman of Bee'ah, UAE; Miguel Angel Moratinos, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spain; Sandro Gozi, Vice President, Partito Democratico, Italy; Homaid Al Shemmari, Executive Director, Mubadala Aerospace, UAE; Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrouei, President and CEO, Emirates Aluminium, UAE; Simno Henderson, Baker Fellow and Director, Gulf and Energy Policy Programme, Washington Institute, USA; Lionel Zinsou, Chairman and CEO, PAI, France; Anne Lauvergeon, CEO, Areva, France; and Fouad Makhzoumi, CEO, Future Pipe Industries, UAE, will discuss the role the West can play in facilitating both positive and long-lasting economic changes in the region as well as focus on the kind of cooperation that could benefit the region.

The second day of the forum will see eminent speakers comprising the Opening Keynote Panel, which will look at the 'Challenges and Opportunities in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring'. The panelists include Fahad Al Raqbani, Director General, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, UAE; Badr Jafar, President, Crescent Petroleum, UAE; Faizal Kottikollon, Founder and Chairman, KEF Holdings, UAE; Ahmed El Kheiy, Editor-in-Chief, France 24, France; Pr. Jean-Louis Reiffers, President, FEMISE, France; and Jay Footlik, Founding President and CEO, Global Policy Initiatives, USA.

Other plenary sessions will also feature a roster of prominent international panelists who will take a look at a wide variety of topics, including 'Infrastructure and Utilities: How to Meet the Needs;' 'Finance: Looking for Innovative Solutions to Help the Real Economy;' 'The Role of Media in Building Bridges Between the West and MENA Countries;' 'Green Business and Smarter Water: Building Resources for the Future;' and 'Education and Healthcare: Meeting Higher Standards'.

The various sessions of the forum will also be attended by government and corporate officials, senior AUS officials and faculty members, students and members of the media.

On behalf of the hosting institution and sponsors, Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS; Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, AUS; Mr. Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs, AUS; Dr. Hashem Dezhbakhsh, Dean School of Business & Management, AUS; Mr. François-Aïssa Touazi, President of CapMena; and Mr. Bernard Belletante, Dean of EuroMed Management, wish to welcome all distinguished guests to a fruitful discussion and creative exchange.

A Gala Dinner will be hosted by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at their premises on the second day of the forum.
Sponsors include Mubadala Aerospace, Mubadala STRATA, AXA Insurance, Emirates Aluminuim, ATIC, Petrofac, Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons, Bee'ah, Total, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, KEF Holding, Sharjah Holding, Global Energy Holding Company, Veolia Enviroment.

AUS Chancellor Peter Heath stated, "It is an honor that AUS was selected to host this august Forum as a reputable educational institution to support the initiatives of this unique forum, which represents an important dimension of the key message of the AUS to explore new strategic solutions that are to be evaluated by prominent figures from Europe, America, Middle East, North Africa and especially the Arabian Gulf in charge of long-term plans. This forum constitutes the finest global expertise from the most prominent governmental officials and business leaders, to diplomats, economists and academics."

Vice Chancellor Mourtada remarked, "The ultimate goal of the MENA Economic Forum is to work together hand-in-hand to strategize about how to cement long-term relationships to most wisely boost human infrastructure in an increasingly natural resources-constrained world through the importance of providing youth in the Gulf and the Middle East and North Africa the basic skills, training and expertise required to build their competencies and national cadres required by the labor market. This Forum aims to find the necessary number of jobs to meet any of the challenges arising from unemployment in order to find ways to develop competencies in various fields to prepare the next generation of future youth."

Vice Chancellor Al Qaseer welcomed hosting "This forum of global significance in the United Arab Emirates and on the campus of the American University of Sharjah in particular, to strengthen the efforts of cultural, economic and scientific fields at various levels. This emphasizes the University's interaction with the global talent and the Arab world as well as solid international bonds, especially with a number of prominent figures to strengthen the relationship and exchanges between the University and the community to endorse the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of the American University of Sharjah."

The various sessions of the forum will also be attended by government and corporate officials, senior AUS officials and faculty members, students, and members of the media.