São Paulo – Public-private partnerships will be on the agenda at the Jeddah Economic Forum from Tuesday (01) to Thursday (03) next week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event will set out to enhance potential synergies between the public and private sectors, focusing primarily on the private sector’s role and privatizations in Saudi Arabia.
With an oil-based economy, Saudi Arabia is striving to diversify its revenues and is looking to private companies for partnerships. Overly oil-dependent Arab economies are watching as revenues dwindle due to the commodity’s low global prices. The Saudi economy, however, should grow 1.2% this year and 1.9% in 2017, according to forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The forum will cover potential commercial advantages to private sector investors, but also the challenges involved. Topics will include regulation, risk management and the potential for privatization in roads, ports, energy, desalination, aviation, healthcare, education and utilities such as water treatment.
Speakers will include the Saudi prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. the Saudi minister of Commerce and Industry, Tawfiz Al-Rabiah, the Saudi minister of Economy and Planning, Adel Fakeih, the chairman of the board of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Abdullatif Othman, the CEO of the Saudi Telecom Company, Khaled Biyari, the global chairman of Entrepreneur Organization, Gilberto Crombé, and others.
The forum usually welcomes participants from over 60 countries around the world, including high-ranking government officials, business executives, political leaders and specialists. The first edition was held in 2000.
Jeddah Economic Forum
March 01 to 03, 2016
Jeddah Hilton Hotel
North Corniche Road – Jeddah – Saudi Arabia
Additional information: http://www.jef.org.sa/
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
