Global Arab Network | FIKR 8 - Kuwait Amir inaugurates Arab Thought Foundation Conference

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FIKR 8 - Kuwait Amir inaugurates Arab Thought Foundation Conference

Arab Thought Foundation

Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:45

Amir_Sheikh_Sabah_Al-Ahmad_Al-Jaber_Al-Sabah_and_ATFs_Chairman_Prince_Khaled_Al-Faisal_copy

Under the sponsorship and in presence of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah the Eighth Conference of the Arab Thought Foundation (Fikr) kicked off in Kuwait.

On top of the dignitaries present are ATF's Chairman HH Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Secretary-General Suleiman Abulmon'em as well as HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Entitled "Integrating Arab Economies - Partners for Prosperity," this year's edition of the annual event tackles a host of major regional issues of the time such as; economic integration and trade protectionism; prospects for trade and monetary union, food security and global agriculture; and corporate social responsibility and the role of the private sector in combining business priorities with social development goals.

The conference brought together leading policy-makers, and representatives of the private sector, NGOs and intelligentsia from across the Arab world.

ATF's Chairman Prince Khaled Al-Faisal delivered a speech voicing gratitude to the Kuwait Amir and the Kuwaiti government and people for their constant support to his foundation since its inception.

"The kind sponsorship of the event by HH the Amir gives us an unprecedented moral and material support," he said.

"The State of Kuwait has footed the bill of this edition of the annual event fully, marking the first time for a host country to do so.

"This not unusual for Kuwait which did not only raise high the banner of culture locally, but spearheaded the promotion of culture across the Arab arena," Al-Faisal pointed out.

He called on the conferees to exchange experience and capitalize on their scientific and professional expertise to serve the grand project of the Arab economic development particularly under the current challenges.

"The current global economic crisis has influenced everybody in a variant form and necessitated revision of the economic theories," he noted.

"The Arab communities responded to challenge of the crisis from the very beginning. The State of Kuwait played host to the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit on January 19 - 20, 2009," Al-Faisal recalled, noting that Cairo is setting the state for the second such summit, due in the spring of 2011.

The Fikr-8, themed "Integrating Arab Economies -- Partners for Prosperity," provides a platform for the leading players in the Arab public and private sectors to revive the culture of getting together, he said, adding that the event serves as a link between the two Arab economic summits.
"The Arab region possesses all potentials of integration and can restore its historical well-deserved honorable status among the other nations of the world," ATF's chief underscored.

Concluding his address, Al-Faisal renewed thanks to the attendees and the organizers of the conference, wishing them success in serving the interests of the Arab nation.

FIKR 8 conference this year has more than 800 attendees from 36 countries around the world. It tackles big issues of the day like: economic integration and trade protectionism; prospects for trade and monetary union, food security and global agriculture, Arab corporate social responsibility and the role the private sector plays in combining business priorities with social development goals. A particular spotlight will be placed on Islamic finance and its significance as a financial model within the global economy as well as an over-arching focus on the region’s youth – the subject of a live Al Arabiya TV debate on day 2 which will culminate in a gala dinner which will celebrate the best of young Arab talent and achievement in the 2009 Arab Creativity Awards.

Global Arab Network (GAN) has partnered with Arab Thought Foundation for its FIKR 8 conference.

GAN is a comprehensive News and Information Service about the Arab World in English and Arabic, registered and based in London.

It is worth mentioning that The Arab Thought Foundation is an international, independent and non-governmental organization which does not have link to any political or sectarian organizations. ATF was founded in 2001 by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, with a guiding mission to help advance the economic, social and cultural development of the Arab region.

The Foundation believes that open and constructive dialogue between the business community, academia and civil society is imperative for the future development of the region. By sharing knowledge, nurturing creativity and building on this dialogue, practical solutions for our collective future can be forged.

It is an institution interested in the various fields of knowledge of science, medicine, economics, administration, media and literature in efforts to unify the intellectual and cultural Arabs, which also calls for Arab solidarity and the promotion and preservation of identity.

Global Arab Network

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