The Western coastal city of Jeddah will host the First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum in the period from 19 to 21 October. The three-day forum aims to raise consumer awareness in the Arab and Islamic worlds on the hazards of counterfeit goods. Through the forum, leaders of the private sector, international governments, law enforcement agencies and civil society are expected to unite their efforts to fight the growing global problem, now estimated in terms of economic losses that amount to some $700 billion per year. However, the social costs, in terms of risk to consumers' lives and safety, can add up to incalculable amounts. The focus of this effort is to protect consumers and brand owners against counterfeits and their economic impact and social implications. Arab League chief Amr Moussa had made the announcement about the Forum in a press conference held in Cairo last week Moussa said the Forum would be organized by the Arab League and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI,) and would help in raising Arab consumers' awareness on the dangers of counterfeit products. “The Forum will suggest recommendations to protect consumers in the Arab World and Arab economies from the ill effects of piracy and forgery,” Moussa told reporters. Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaijri, Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League for Economic Affairs, called for businessmen in the Arab world to take part in the Forum and benefit from its lectures and topics. “Meetings in the Forum will focus on key issues, where participants will work hard to determine the best possible solutions for the annoying phenomena of piracy,” Tuwaijri said. ICCI President Sheikh Saleh Kamel told journalists on the sidelines of the conference that the recommendations emerging from the forum would lead to well-built efforts to prevent piracy and counterfeiting from harming the economies of the Arab and Islamic countries. “With the Arab League and ICCI at the forefront, the Forum would break new ground,” Ahmad Al-Hamdan, Chairman of Hemaya Universal, a co-organizer for the event, told reporters. “The forum is the first of its kind in the region,” added Hamdan. “It will include seminars and lectures to spread awareness among consumers on the dangers resulting from counterfeited goods.” He said the Forum also aims to support new legislation for consumer protection and defeating counterfeiting in Arab and Islamic countries. “The Forum will specifically look into the problem of piracy in some markets, and will identify and support available capacities for effective countermeasures through collaboration with governments, international organizations and local communities,” he said. According to Hamdan, the Forum will highlight the best international experiences in raising consumer awareness, building capacities and taking effective actions. “Brand owners will present their successful experiences in decision-making and implementation,” he said. “Involving specialists from consumer protection agencies, intellectual property rights protection groups and anti-counterfeiting institutions in the Arab world, the Forum will come up with recommendations and pave the way for action on the ground in Arab and Islamic countries.” __
