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GLOBAL AGENDA TO BE SET IN SHARM
BY REHAB EL-BAKRY
Over 1,000 of the world’s most influential people
will convene in the Red Sea resort of Sharm Al Sheikh this month
for the regional meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which
is being held in Egypt for the first time since 1996. Local organizers
are building a multimillion dollar conference facility for the event
and rolling out the red carpet. Yet due to obvious security concerns,
they have so far been unable to gloat about it. In fact, details
of the venue, event schedule and guest list are being kept tightly
under wraps.
The World Economic Forum is an independent, non-profit organization
based in Geneva. Its motto, “committed too improving the state
of the world,” reflects its goal of trying to promote a better
common understanding among the plethora of highly-influential world
government, business and civil society leaders attending its general
and regional meetings. The conferences are designed to shape world
agendas at the global, regional and national levels by addressing
issues of likely importance over the coming three to five years.
The World Economic Forum meets annually in Davos, Switzerland, and
also holds a number of regional meetings designed to provide delegates
with exposure to different areas of the world. “WEF began to
host events focusing on the Middle East after our members voiced
interest in having a forum focusing on the political, economic and
social changes currently taking place in the region,” says
WEF managing director Peter Torreele. “There has been an international
preoccupation with the Middle East region since 9/11 not only at
the political level, but also at the economic level, as more and
more players around the world come to see the great economic potential
in the region. Many in the Middle East, meanwhile, are realizing
that [the region] should not isolate itself from globalization.”
Jordan has hosted the WEF’s annual Middle East meeting for
the last three years at its specially-built conference facility
on the Dead Sea. Torreele praised Jordan’s “generous and
supportive” efforts in hosting the regional forum, but said
it was time it toured the region, as other regional WEF forums do.
Accordingy, this year’s regional forum will be held in Sharm
Al Sheikh on May 20-22 under the theme “The Promise of a New
Generation.” The regional event is expected to convene in Doha
next year, returning to the Dead Sea in 2008 and moving to North
Africa in 2009.
Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid has played
a pivotal role in bringing the regional forum to Egypt, which he
says will highlight the success of the Nazif government’s recent
economic reforms. “The presence of the WEF in Egypt is a sign
that we are open for business,” he told Business Monthly. “This
is a great opportunity to give the Egyptian business environment
as much support and exposure as possible. We have been taking strides
to open the economy, increase investment and exports, and create
employment and growth. This is our opportunity to show that to the
world.”
Naguib Sawiris, CEO of Orascom Telecom, says the WEF conference
will give the local private sector a sterling opportunity to make
a lasting impression. “The presence of the WEF here in Egypt
will provide us with a captive audience of movers and shakers from
the world economic, political and business circuits,” he says.
“We must work to make a tremendous impression, reflective of
the changes that have take place in Egypt.”
According to Torreele, the framework of the regional forum’s
agenda is based on issues raised at Davos that pertain to the Middle
East. The material is then detailed further via discussion with
WEF members, who include a variety of world players in the political,
economic, social and business spheres. “Business community
members have input on the agenda as well as during the actual meetings,”
he says. “This allows them to share their perspectives with
decisionmakers, something they might not normally be able to do.”
The agenda will be finalized just days before the forum, though
Torreele says it is almost certain to include key issues such as
international relations, culture and identity, the rule of law,
rising oil prices and their implications for global energy supply,
and opportunities for business growth. While the focus is on finding
preemptive solutions to medium-term problems, the agenda will also
take into account regional issues that are unfolding at the time
of the event. “We try to ensure that the issues are as current
as possible, with particular focus on how they will affect the region
a few years down the road,” Torreele says. “We try to
ensure that perception is as close as possible to reality.”
An April 24 terrorist attack in Dahab, a resort town just 107 kilometers
north of Sharm Al Sheikh, cast a pall on event preparations and
heightened security fears. WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus
Schwab issued a statement the following day affirming that the terrorist
attack would not deter organizers and participants.
“The immediate temptation would have been to cancel our forum
in Egypt next month, but for the sake of a more peaceful future
for humankind we have to show our solidarity by holding this meeting.
We must demonstrate to the world that political and economic leaders
take on their responsibility to work for a more harmonious and prosperous
development of the Middle East – despite all the challenges
and difficulties,” he said.
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