Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh led a Jordanian delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh. The two-day meeting brought together over a thousand global leaders to discuss stability, prosperity, and inclusive growth. The forum served as a platform for major announcements in healthcare, technology, space, and sustainability. Notable figures in attendance included WEF President Børge Brende, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, David Cameron, Bill Gates, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During the meeting, the Saudi Ministry of Health signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to enhance global healthcare access. Moderna's CEO also announced an upcoming cancer treatment product. The Saudi Space Agency revealed plans to launch the Center for Space Futures in collaboration with the WEF. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman highlighted the importance of an equitable energy transition. Discussions were held on critical geopolitical challenges and the path to enduring regional stability.
Prime Minister Khasawneh participated in a special session dedicated to discussing the war on Gaza and efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attended a ministerial meeting of the Arab Group to discuss the situation in Gaza and held meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and representatives from several EU countries.
The WEF Special Meeting in Riyadh concluded with a call for clear paths to global peace and prosperity. The participants emphasized the need for international cooperation and outlined strategies for achieving sustainable development goals.
Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed El-Khereiji, expressed Saudi Arabia's commitment to advocating for the causes of the Islamic world on global platforms at the Foreign Minister's preparatory meeting in Gambia. He emphasized the Kingdom's stance on Palestine's right to statehood and the importance of unity and solidarity within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The preparatory meeting for the 33rd Arab Summit in Bahrain's capital, Manama, focused on critical economic and social challenges in the Middle East. The meeting, held on May 12, discussed issues that will be submitted to the upcoming summit on May 16. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan led the Kingdom's delegation to the meeting. The 32nd Regular Session of the Arab Summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia, concluded with the issuance of the Jeddah Declaration, which included initiatives to enhance collective efforts across economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational domains.
Dr. Khalil Abdallat, Director of the Human Rights Unit in the Prime Minister's Office, emphasized the significant role of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II in promoting youth engagement in human rights and fostering peaceful societies. He highlighted the Security Council Resolution No. 2250, initiated by Jordan and supported by Crown Prince Hussein, which acknowledges the role of youth in building peace. Jordan takes pride in its interaction with the universal periodic review mechanism of human rights, having submitted its last report in Geneva in 2024. Abdallat also discussed the National Youth Strategy 2019-2025 and the Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Volunteer Work. The symposium in Aqaba is part of Jordan's efforts to promote human rights culture and awareness.
The surge in international visitors during the Qatar Economic Forum (QEF) 2024 witnessed a demand for luxury accommodations and dining experiences, boosting the country's tourism sector. The forum serves as a global platform for discussions on economic matters, investment opportunities, and networking, attracting a diverse array of participants, including diplomatic dignitaries, business leaders, and media representatives. Hosting high-profile events like QEF provides a unique opportunity to showcase Qatar's rich cultural heritage and modern infrastructure. QEF aligns with Qatar's national strategy 2030, focusing on economic diversification, sustainable development, and investment in cutting-edge technologies. QEF 2024 served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action, laying the groundwork for advancing tourism, business, and investment in Qatar and the wider region.
The Qatar Economic Forum (QEF) 2024 is a great opportunity for the innovation sector in Qatar to learn about major trends from a global perspective. Abeer Al Hammadi, Director of Innovation Center and Economic Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), highlighted Qatar's startup ecosystem and its potential as a rising startup hub. The QEF aims to promote the Qatari economy globally, attract investments and businesses, and increase confidence in the Qatari economy. The launch of the Fanar initiative at the QEF will collect big and clean data for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and focus on collecting quality data in the Arabic language to enrich linguistic models and preserve the Arab identity. HBKU is a research-intensive university with over 350 scientists working on diverse themes of technology. The university provides entrepreneurship training and is launching a new program called 'Lab of Innovation' for innovation and technology commercialization training. Qatar has been facilitating entrepreneurship within the country, including new visas for investors and entrepreneurs, encouraging others to start their entrepreneurship journey.
The US-Morocco Venture Capital Forum highlights strategic investments and partnerships between the two countries. The forum aims to promote collaboration and economic growth in various sectors. It provides a platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials to discuss investment opportunities and explore potential partnerships. The event showcases successful case studies and highlights the potential for innovation and growth in Morocco's startup ecosystem. The forum also emphasizes the importance of fostering a supportive environment for startups and attracting foreign investment. It serves as a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, facilitating connections between Moroccan and American entrepreneurs and investors. The event is scheduled to take place on an unspecified date.
Startup OLÉ Marbella '24 event, organized by CEO Emilio Corchado, was attended by over 1,000 participants. The event aimed to connect the international and national entrepreneurship ecosystems. The event featured speakers, startups, and generated many synergies, contacts, investments, and business opportunities. The event was held in Marbella due to its economic power and international connections. The event highlighted the numerous opportunities in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan. The success of the event was attributed to the networking opportunities and the natural and constant contact between participants. The event brought together representatives from different political forces, emphasizing that entrepreneurship is not about colors or parties. The event showcased the health of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain. Minsait was awarded by Fundación MAPFRE, Fundación Gmp, Plena Inclusión Madrid, and Microsoft. Iberdrola diversified its financing with a CHF 335 million green bond placement. The Saudi Business Council offered opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The article was published by Atalayar in the Economy and Business section.