Dubai, 23 Oct.04 (WAM) -- Leading thinkers, statesmen, academicsand decision-makers will gather in Dubai this December to map out a blueprint for what the Arab world would look like in the year 2020.

The Arab Strategy Forum will form the platform for the discussions,debate and policy deliberations in Dubai from 13th to 15th of December2004.

"Heads of State, key Cabinet Ministers, chiefs of leading public authorities,non-government organisations, academics, experts, opinion-influencersand decision-makers from the private sector from the world over will gatherin Dubai to discuss the future of the Arab world," said Nabil Al Yousuf,Vice Chairman of the Arab Strategy Forum Organising Committee.

The Arab Strategy Forum will be held under the overall theme of 'The ArabWorld in 2020. "The Arab Strategy Forum will help present a clear scenarioof what challenges and opportunities will face the Arab world in its marchinto the future. We hope to learn from it to plan for a better futurefor all of us," said Al Yousuf.

Scenarios being developed established think tanks will become the corethemes of the discussions. The Forum will discuss and outline what arethe key factors that influence the region's regimes and what are the trendsin governance. It will also discuss political reform and development andthe march towards genuine democracy and the impact of the shift towardstransparency.

One of the other subjects to be covered under the overall theme is theimpact of internal developments in one country - such as is the case withIraq presently - on their neighbours and the region.

The Arab Strategy Forum is divided into different sessions on threedays. The first day will see discussions on 'Security in the Arab Worldin 2020'. Most Arab countries have developed agreementswith countries and blocs outside the Arab world, which has resulted inincreased regional tension and instability. Historic border disputes tooforce increased military spending.

"We look forward to the delegates and speakers answering some of the questionsthat we need to know so we can effectively plan for the future," saidNabil Al Yousuf.

The Forum would debate the issue whether 'war on terrorism' has resultedin some Arab countries or institutions becoming the targets for militaryactions. It will also look at whether an Arab or even a GCC security allianceor bloc is possible by 2020 and how would the Arab-Israeli conflict affectsecurity and stability? What are the economic costs of instability andwhat would be the effects of a long term US presence in Iraq?Day Two (14th December) would focus on business and economy with speakersdebating 'Globalisation of Economies and Business in 2020 - The Futureof Economic and Financial Reform in the Arab World.

Arab countries have implemented major initiatives for economic reformto attract foreign investments and to redeploy privatisation revenuesfor development. The varied effectiveness of such measures has resultedin major gaps in economic performance between Arab governments. In successfulcases, the growth has been mainly government-led. This raises the questionabout sustainability.

Al Yousuf pointed out that these and other issues will be raised andanswered providing regional government ideas on how to adapt and formulatedevelopment policies.

The second session of the day will cover the 'Economic and Trade Policiesin the Arab World in 2020' and the crucial role of 'Energy in 2020 - Thefuture of Oil and Gas'.

Issues such as an Arab free trade zone and economic integration and theeffectiveness of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec),will be dealt with in these sessions, Al Yousuf said.

Arab Strategy Forum discussions on the final day will revolve around socialissues with a special focus on 'Human Development in the Arab World in2020: The Knowledge-based Society and the IT Revolution'.

It is accepted that Arab countries may have failed to take full advantageof the IT Revolution. They have not been able to develop the base of theknowledge-based societies because of historic social, infrastructure andeducation barriers.

The Arab Strategy Forum will find answers as to how could knowledge-creationbe made a part of the region, to find the main shortcomings and to findthe solutions to these.

The final day will discuss the Arab workforce in a session on 'Arab LabourMarkets in 2020 - Population Growth and the War for Talent'.

The Arab world has a growing youthful population that governments arenot able to absorb into productive streams. Economic drivers for job creationhave not been able to match the demand and neither the education systemhas been able to produce the talent required.

The Vice Chairman of the Arab Strategy Forum Organising Committee said:"Effective utilisation of labour and the role of women in the workforcewould form to key planks of the discussions at this year's Arab StrategyForum."The proceedings will conclude in a debate on the 'The Rise and Fall ofCountries and Corporations'.

The closing session will ponder over issues such as the defining of thekey sectors to focus on for a better future, and where should one start?It will examine other nation's experiences and experiences of the pastto learn form it.

"We have carefully selected the issues of security, politics, governance,transparency, social change, economic reforms, education and labour sowe could get a rounded view of key elements of developments from expertswho will be gathered at the Arab Strategy Forum 2004," Al Yousuf said.

"We are confident that the three days of deliberations on the issues thatbroadly affect our societies, will bring dividends that will help us inshaping our future," he concluded.

Eight pre-eminent local and international organisations have come forwardto offer their unstinted support for this year's Arab Strategy Forum.

The premiere annual event has six Organising Partners and two Media Partners.

They are Emirates National Oil Company Ltd (ENOC), Abraaj Capital, PricewaterhouseCooper,DaimlerChrysler Middle East, National Bank of Dubai and Gulf News, inaddition to our Media Partners Al Sharq Al Awsat and CNN. The Arab StrategyForum will provide valuable insights, which will help in improving thestatus of the Arab World.