Geneva and Cairo, 27 October--The Arab Global Forum will take place 7-8 December 2009 in Washington, D.C. This groundbreaking event will bring together Arab business leaders, along with experts, policy-makers and senior executives of international corporations with direct involvement or keen interest in the Arab region to lay the foundations for expanding business and economic cooperation. It is an endeavor of business, by business and for business.

The Arab Global Forum comes at a crucial moment as the global economy undergoes structural changes that will reshape the international economic scene. In this new context, the entire Middle East is engaged in a process of adjusting its business and economic interaction with the rest of the world. New opportunities are emerging for Arab economies and business. Six months after President Obama’s speech in Cairo, this meeting looks to expand and strengthen ties in the economic and business domains, building upon the positive momentum created by that speech.

Today the Arab world countries represent a total GDP of about 2.5 trillion US dollars. Under the theme, “The Arab World in a New Global Context: Challenges, Choices and Opportunities,” this first meeting of the Arab Global Forum will look into changes in the region, in the business environment and prospects, and the private sector as the emerging business force in the Arab World. Specific topics for discussion include: mapping out of the Arab business landscape, oil and gas, clean tech, Arab sovereign wealth funds, Islamic finance, managing risk, while addressing mutual misunderstandings. There will also be a focus on how US investors should look at the Middle East, and how Middle Eastern investors should look at the US, along with sector-specific discussions.

Confirmed speakers as of this date include: Adnan AbdulAziz Al Bahar, Chairman & Managing Director, The International Investor Company, Kuwait; Sandy Climan, President, Entertainment Media Ventures Inc., United States;  Mazen Darwazah,  Chairman and CEO, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Jordan; Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economy, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, United States; Karim Kawar, President, Kawar Group and Former Jordanian Ambassador to the United States, Jordan; Nasser Al Kharafi, CEO, Mohammad Abdul Mohsin Al Kharafi & Sons, Kuwait; Al Larson, Senior International Policy Advisor, Covington & Burling, United States; Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan, Chairman, Bin Zayed Group, United Arab Emirates; Nicholas Parker, Executive Chairman, Cleantech Group, United States; Bill Rhodes, Chairman and President Citibank & Senior Vice Chairman, Citi, United States; Ali Al Shihabi, Founder and Executive Chairman, Rasmala Investment Bank, United Arab Emirates.  

The Arab Global Forum (www.arabglobalforum.com) is an initiative of Egypt’s International Economic Forum (www.eieforum.org) and Smadja &Associates (www.smadja.ch). This inaugural meeting of some 300 decision-makers in Washington, D.C. is part of an ongoing process that will continue with meetings in Europe, Asia and the Middle East over the next year. Members of the press are welcome to attend. For media enquiries, please contact Barbara Erskine at Swiss telephone (4179) 202 4528, email barbara@barbaraerskine.com.