Fri, 24 May 2013

MUSCAT -- Dr Salem al Ismaily, Chairman of The Public Authority for Import Promotion and Export Development (PAIPED), will lead the Omani delegation to the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and Africa (Mena) held at the Dead Sea resort of King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre in Jordan from today to May 26.

Promoting the role of private sector companies, the forum aims to deliver prosperity across the region by developing increased trade opportunities as well as domestic and cross-border job creation.

Dr Al Ismaily will be joined by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, Chairman, Public Authority for Electricity and Water; Khalil bin Abdullah al Khonji, Chairman, OCCI; Saleem bin Ali al Hakmani, Member of Majlis Ash'shura and Head of the Economic Committee at the Council, and Hassan bin Ahmed al Nabhani, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Investment Fund.

Dr Al Ismaily said: "The Forum will help participating countries create a roadmap to advance conditions for growth and resilience in the region. PAIPED already works to facilitate the growth of the private sector in Oman through increased visibility and overseas promotion of Omani non-oil products that create export opportunities.

The Sultanate has identified the need to invest in and support the small and medium-sized enterprises and drive private sector growth. Indeed, if this can be achieved this will have significant impact on GDP and sustainable cross-border trade. Through dialogue and agreed actions, the World Economic Forum Middle East and North Africa meeting aims to develop long-term competitiveness and increased productivity while also safeguarding against potential economic fluctuations."

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa brings together over 900 leaders from government and business as well as influential media representatives, civil servants and youth leaders from Gulf Co-operation Council countries, the Levant, North Africa and around the world to identify areas with high potential for growth and investment. Previous meetings have addressed future employment opportunities in the Mena region by promoting the development of industrial hubs and preparing for a growing youth demographic.

This years' Forum will be chaired by Jin-Yong Cai, Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington DC; Ibrahim S Dabdoub, Group Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Kuwait; Samer S Khoury, President, Engineering and Construction, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Greece and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Infrastructure; Mohammed H al Mady, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), Saudi Arabia and Martin Senn, Group Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Insurance Group, Switzerland who is also Co-Chair of the Governors for Financial Services Industry for 2013.

© Oman Daily Observer 2013