Education and Job Creation for Youth Top Outlook on the Arab World Agenda

  • world economic forumThe Arabic version of the Outlook on the Global Agenda 2013 is launched at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa
  • The report focuses on regional challenges linked to globalization, geopolitics, hyperconnectivity, the post-2015 development agenda and leadership values
  • Report insights will be discussed at the Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda 2013 in November

Dead Sea, Jordan, 24 May 2013 – Education and the creation of employment opportunities are fundamental for fulfilling the ambitions of young people in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Outlook on the Global Agenda 2013, released today in Arabic at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.

“Youth under 25 years old represent a majority of the population in the Arab World and have high aspirations for the future. Fulfilling these aspirations, by providing high-quality education, fostering sustainable and increased economic growth, and creating employment opportunities, should be top priorities for the governments of the region,” stressed Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates and Co-Chair of the Summit on the Global Agenda 2012, which was hosted in Dubai.

The findings of the report will be discussed at the Forum’s regional event in Jordan and further debated at the Summit on the Global Agenda 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 18-20 November. The Summit convenes the most relevant experts from academia, government, business and civil society to challenge conventional thinking and tackle global challenges.

The Outlook on the Global Agenda 2013 contains insights on globalization, geopolitics, hyperconnectivity, post-2015 development issues and leadership values.

“It is particularly interesting that this report highlights two of the major issues we face in the Arab world: leadership and moral values. The recent uprisings in Arab countries were a direct challenge to leaderships which could no longer be trusted and were failing to respond to the needs of their people,” added Mustapha Kamel Nabli, Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia (2011-2012) and Chair of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Arab World.

The report also includes input by:

  • Pascal Lamy (Director-General, World Trade Organization, Geneva) and Kevin Rudd(Member of Parliament, Australia) on the future of globalization
  • Michael Spence (Nobel Laureate, William R. Berkley Professor in Economics and Business, NYU Stern School of Business, USA) and Fu Jun (Executive Dean and Professor, School of Government, Peking University, People’s Republic of China) on the quest for economic growth
  • Javier Solana (President, Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, ESADE, Spain; Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution) and Ian Bremmer(President, Eurasia Group, USA) on geopolitical uncertainties
  • Robert Madelin (Director-General, Communication Networks, Content & Technology – DG CONNECT, Belgium) and Marc Davis (Partner Architect, Microsoft Online Services Division, Microsoft Corporation, USA) on thriving in a hyperconnected world
  • John McArthur (Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation, Washington) and Wu Changhua(Director, Greater China, Climate Group, People’s Republic of China) on the post-15 development agenda
  • Chan YuenYing (Director and Professor, Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong) and Michael J. Elliott (President and Chief Executive Officer, ONE, USA) on restoring values

The Co-Chairs of the 2013 World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa are Jin-Yong Cai, Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Washington, DC; Mohammed H. Al Mady, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Saudi Arabia; Ibrahim S. Dabdoub, Group Chief Executive Officer, National Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait; Mina Al Oraibi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, United Kingdom; Samer S. Khoury, President, Engineering and Construction, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Greece; and Martin Senn, Group Chief Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance Group, Switzerland.