The two-day annual Arab Economic Forum that will open today (Thursday) in Beirut underlined the need for regional cooperation and restructuring to overcome the challenges and risks brought about by the global financial crisis. Saudi Arabia has a high-level delegation at the Forum led by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, who is the guest of honor. The 18th session of the Forum covers, among others, global economy in the post-crisis era; Future of the Middle East: Regional Cooperation or Conflict?; Towards a Free Trade Zone Between Turkey and the Arab World; Outlook for Arab-European-Middle Eastern Relations; Prospects of Economic Cooperation and Partnership with the Rising Economies of Asia; Financing Challenges in light of the Retrenchment in Credit and Foreign Investment; Regional Economic Restructuring and Lessons Learned from the Crisis; and Post-Crisis Investment Strategies: New Opportunities and Risks. The Saudi delegation includes renowned Saudi officials and economists, among them, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser, Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA); Dr. Abdullah Al-Kuwaiz a renowned economist; and Dr. Faysal Alaquil, chairman of the Advisory Committee of Department of Architecture at Effat University, and director of Business Development for Construction Products Holding Company (CPC). Dr. Alaquil said “Construction Products Holding Company (CPC) is much honored to be a platinum sponsor for this forum, which he described as of great significance for being the oldest economic forum in the region. The forum will discuss many important and vital issues that impact the economic performance in the region and its future plans.” He added “we at CPC never hesitate to support and sponsor any event or conference that aims to increase bilateral trade and open investment opportunities in the Arab countries, and where steps are taken to meet the challenges facing the Arab economy and recover from the impact of economic crisis which negatively affected many countries around the world last year.” More than 600 participants are attending the Arab Economic Forum led by the Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou.
