GENEVA: More than 1,200 government, business and civil society leaders from 46 countries will meet together in pursuit of outcomes to help prepare the way for a more prosperous and peaceful future for the Middle East under the working theme, The Promise of a New Generation. Participants will look at the role of business as the engine of job creation and the need for leaders to work together for peace and stability. The World Economic Forum on the Middle East comes at a crucial time in the region for so many reasons; but if the future is to be secure both for the Middle East and for the rest of the world, it is to the next generation that we need to deliver. By engaging business, by forging partnerships between the public and private sectors and by constructive and fruitful dialogue we will contribute to a future where we will be able to realize the promise of a new generation, said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF). According to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the region is going through a transformation, from economic growth to democratization and human development. This meeting will be a chance to facilitate meaningful dialogue on a wide variety of issues including the global business agenda. Sharm El-Sheikh has gained international recognition as a city of peace. We hope that the spirit of the city will prevail as we continue to accelerate the development of our nation economically and politically. The WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a foundation in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests The WEF will be taking place from May 20-22, 2006 in Sharm El-Sheikh.
