Some of the region’s leading thinkers and decision makers will gather in Tunis in June to build a vision of the Arab World’s economic and technological development over the coming thirty years.
Organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Arab Alumni/ae Association (MIT AAA), the MIT‘s Fifth Annual Pan Arab Conference is scheduled to be held on June 24 – 25 under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and will bring together world renown figures to offer insight into what it will take to propel the region forward.
“This conference takes place at an important juncture in the Arab World,” said Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, Sadok Chaâbane. “Much of the issues that will be discussed in the conference are ones that are being debated across the Arab World and form an integral part of the current dialogue between the Western world and Arab and Muslim countries. Tunisia has laid out a long term vision for the development of the country and we are encouraged to see MIT AAA propel similar drives for development throughout the Arab World.”
The two day conference will bring together global and regional thinkers and policy makers, Arab and Asian government ministers, as well as leading businessmen from the region to tackle issues such as research and development in the Arab World, prospects for a Pan-Arab economic market, the region as an industry and service base for Europe, improving the image of the Arab World, women’s role in economic development in the region, innovation, corporate growth and entrepreneurship, and regional education models.
“This is an annual conference in which regional and global experts and decision makers put their heads together to come up with concrete steps for the development of the region,” says MIT AAA President Ennis Rimawi. “The aim of this year’s conference is to project a long-term vision for individual countries in the region and the Arab World as a whole. It is important that Arab countries set their own agenda and blue print for the region. Technology development and trade relationships are two critical dimensions of this.”
In line with its annual tradition, the Conference is expected to produce specific initiatives for the host country and the region. Last year, the MIT AAA Conference was held in Dubai. At its conclusion, Sheikh Nahayan announced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Research and Development Fund. Moreover, a working relationship was developed between MIT one of the world’s leading institutions on technology and Research and Development and Dubai for Executive Education and Entrepreneurship Development.
The MIT AAA is a network of Arab alumni living in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America, aiming to unite Arabs and “to promote their highest interests and those of humanity; to elevate and develop the mental and moral character of the Arab people; to support science and technology; and to promote East-West understanding within the Arab World.” — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
