Jordan to host WEF-MENA meeting at Dead Sea for 8th time

AMMAN — The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa (WEF-MENA) will be held at the Dead Sea May 21-23, organisers and the Royal Court have announced. 

Convening under the theme “Shaping a New Strategic Context”, more than 800 government, business and civil society leaders from more than 50 countries are expected to attend, WEF said in a statement.

The forum’s meeting comes at a “pivotal time”, the WEF statement said.

It added the Jordan-hosted gathering will particularly focus on new developments and institution building efforts in countries of the Levant and North Africa, “which are creating an important momentum for regional and cross-regional trade and investment, including with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as with the United States, Europe and Asia”.

These developments will be addressed in the context of significant geopolitical realignments in response to the security and humanitarian imperatives around Iraq, Syria and Libya, and also in light of the fundamental transformations in energy and technology, which are reshaping business models and economies, according to the organisers.

This year’s meeting will further build on Jordan’s “unique and central role in the region”, the statement said.

“There could not be a more important time to form new economic, government and societal partnerships for the future of this region in the world. We are glad to be returning to Jordan, given its unique international role and long-standing commitment to dialogue,” said Miroslav Dusek, senior director and head of Middle East and North Africa at the WEF.

“The theme and topics of this year’s WEF-MENA meeting reflect Jordan’s deep commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and realising its true potential through building productive partnerships for sustainable and inclusive development as well as investing in human capital and talents,” said Chairperson of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) Senator Imad Fakhoury, whose institution co-organises the event.

The WEF-MENA was last hosted in Jordan in 2013 in partnership with KAFD. This year will mark the eighth meeting with Jordan as host.