WEF 2017

DEAD SEA — Prominent Palestinian and Israeli negotiators on Saturday agreed that the two-state solution was the key to the resolution of the decade-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict, while they differed on the fate of Jerusalem in future peace talks.

Speaking during a World Economic Forum session, Saeb Erekat, secretary of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s executive committee and chief Palestinian negotiator, and former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni said the two-state solution leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state was a "fundamental" solution.

"The two-state solution that ensures the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital is the sole solution. There is no need to reinvent the wheel," Erekat said, calling for ending the Israeli occupation.

"We are ready to engage with Israel in peace talks…It is not an issue of negotiations, what is needed is decisions …To avoid past mistakes, we want an Israeli government that wants to sit at the table and discuss a map [showing] the borders of Palestine as well as other issues," Erekat stated.

Commenting on the issue, Livni said: "Peace based on a two-state solution is in the interest of Israel."

The two officials voiced optimism about US President Donald Trump's efforts to strike a peace deal and stressed on the importance of the US-Islamic summit in Riyadh in this regard.

Erekat, however, warned against relocating the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

"Relocating the US embassy will end the peace process. The annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal as stipulated by all international laws and resolutions," he said, adding that East Jerusalem is an occupied territory.

Meanwhile, Livni said: "I hope to see all embassies in Israel relocate to Jerusalem…"

Erekat also called for stopping all Israeli settlements, which he said was a prerequisite to peace, as stipulated by the Security Council and international resolutions.

"If Netanyahu does not want the two-state solution and rejects a one-state solution on equal rights, that will lead to one state with two systems. This is apartheid and is not sustainable. This is not a solution," he added.

On the issue of Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike in Israeli jails, the Palestinian official called on the international community to pressure Israel to comply with the 4th Geneva Convention and the international laws when dealing with prisoners.

In her remarks, Livni stressed her support to the two-state solution to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying that despite reasons to be sceptic and several difficult issues, there are reasons for optimism.

She stressed the role of the Arab states as "key" to reaching such a peace deal.

Following is the full text of HRH Crown Prince Hussein's speech at the opening session of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa at the Dead Sea on Saturday:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate,

Your Majesties, 

Your Highnesses, 

Excellencies,

Professor Schwab,

Distinguished guests,

Thank you for your kind welcome, and a special thanks to the World Economic Forum and the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, for bringing us together today.

Let me say what a privilege it is to stand before you representing my beloved country, region and the hopes we all share. And, on behalf of all Jordanians, I want to thank our international friends for being here, and helping to make this event a success.

It is fitting that this year’s forum is dedicated to the theme of Generational Transformation, because, for today’s decision makers, the scope and speed of change in our world requires careful analysis, management and planning.

Yet, for young people everywhere, including those who form the large majority in my region, transformation is the reality we were born into. For us, continual innovation is part of the rhythm of life. We grew up embracing new technologies, apps, and processes that give us new ways to connect, and learn, and work. Constant change is our "status quo".

Like young people everywhere, the youth of the Middle East are living in this vast sea of change, but our particular waters are characterised by two opposing currents. Both are forceful and potent, but each is pulling us towards drastically different shores.

On one side, is a treacherous tide, luring our youth toward a dark reality — one that sinks us deeper into violence, intolerance, and regression, through the corrosive power of an extremist ideology; the other transporting us to sunnier shores, where moderation sees our Muslim and Arab identities at peace with modernity and progress, a reality where we can be productive and positive contributors to the world around us.

We are not drifters. When it comes to where the tide will take us, the choice is ours to make. What Arab youth want is what youth everywhere want: A fair chance, a chance to be heard, a chance to make a difference. What is unique to Arab youth, though, is a yearning and thirst that I have not seen anywhere else. Perhaps, that’s because our dire circumstances make us cling more tightly to hope. 

Young people in our region are the heaviest users of social media and the Internet. We are the most likely to have smartphones. We are the gamers and the texters. We are the medical students who use the web to connect to global knowledge. We are the young entrepreneurs who build markets and scale up using digital tech.

But, more importantly, the youth of our region aren’t satisfied to just adopt and adapt global technology. Beyond being mere consumers, I’m proud to say that — especially here in Jordan — you’ll meet young men and women who are spearheading innovation and change. They’ve produced new-era products and services, new Arabic-language web content, new ideas that can serve our region and our world. During the course of this forum, you will hear some of these innovators talk about their work and challenges. 

I also would like to congratulate the 21 Jordanian start-ups named in this forum among the 100 best in the region. You represent the best for the future of our youth through your perseverance, ambition, and determination.

So, here, at the beginning of the global Fourth Industrial Revolution — and thank you, Professor Schwab, for your words of wisdom about it — you can safely say my generation feels the impact. And yet, what they need most is for you all to take a bet on them; to support them — morally and financially — so they can create their own impact. They need your help to advance and scale their projects, so they can see for themselves the difference they can make. Our young people need a region-wide support system for opportunity, access, and hope. That’s why your partnership — all of you in this hall — is so vital.

But this is not a one-way street. If we are to turn chances into life changes, then we, the youth, must be prepared to receive and make the most of the support we get. That means working hard to equip ourselves with relevant skills and tools. 

Everything around us is transforming — markets, professions, trade and industry, technology — and so are the qualifications needed to harness these changes. We have to keep pace, all the while knowing that the fast pace we have gotten accustomed to must not be mistaken for fast success. Instant gratification can be a dangerous and false expectation for my generation. Making it to the top takes time, dedication, and a great deal of diligence.

But if we all do our part, this can be a once-in-a-generation chance to drive radical change across this region, and — ultimately — drive radicalisation out of this region. It can be our chance to release the talent, energy, and hopes of millions of men and women; our chance to bridge the gap between what young people see and long for online, and what they have offline. 

Let our bright content creators become the progressive curators of our region. Hope and a fair chance are the deciding factors for which current will pull our youth, so I urge you to step in, extend your hand, unleash their power and potential, and guide them to safe shores.

Thank you very much.

DEAD SEA — Jordan's "positive and progressive" environment for innovation has enabled several breakthroughs, which will continue to its high level of competitiveness in the international arena, stakeholders said on Saturday.

Speaking at a World Economic Forum (WEF) Middle East and North Africa session titled "Innovative Jordan", innovators and entrepreneurs said Jordan is moving to the right direction when it comes to creating an enabling environment for innovators and entrepreneurs, while noting that there is always room for improvement.

In a bid to stimulate dialogue between innovators and entrepreneurs and private and public stakeholders, the WEF meeting, carried out this year under the theme “Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, features 100 startups, including 21 startups from Jordan.

At the session, attended by His Majesty King Abdullah, Her Majesty Queen Rania, and a group of world leaders, Muhannad Taslaq, CEO of Mixed Dimensions, said that, particularly in the engineering sector, Jordanians are fully capable of competing internationally.

"It is about problem solving [skills], which are universal," he said, adding that his startup, which offers 3D printing and cloud services, employs 50 Jordanian engineers and has so far obtained 16 patents by Jordanians.

In addition to the mindset of innovators, an enabling environment is central for attracting investments to emerging businesses.

Co-director of the Amman Design Week (ADW) Abeer Seikaly agreed, highlighting the engagement of local communities in social entrepreneurial initiatives as a fundamental factor for the efficiency of the problem solving process.

The ADW offers community outreach programmes and other training programmes for students, in addition to exhibitions that help the initiative remain in contact with the local community and share skills with it.

Seikaly initially designed a tent from a solar-absorbing fabric in order to address the need to provide "adequate and dignified" shelters for displaced persons.

It is also important for the government and the private sector to extend support to such initiatives, she added.

Aman Bhutani, president of the US-based Expedia, announced that the company now has an office in Amman, a decision that was driven mainly by the "hunger for learning" among Jordanian youth.

He added that several Jordanian stakeholders work efficiently to enhance recent graduates' interpersonal and professional skills through various training programmes, noting that mentoring programmes offered through many institutions also hone the skills of graduates and enable them to meet the requirements of the job market.

DEAD SEA — UNESCO is committed to continuing to advocate for more support for Jordan in order to provide a better future for refugees and host communities, a senior UNESCO official said on Saturday.

Director General of UNESCO Irina Georgieva Bokova said the agency was one of the first agencies to advocate for the need to support refugees and host communities in Jordan, and has continuously advocated for financial support to the Kingdom through the World Bank and other partners.

In an interview with The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa, she said the WEF 2017 is "important" because it is held in Jordan, which plays a critical and important role in the region from different perspectives.

She commended Jordan's efforts to advance the role of youth at the international community level. 

In April 2015, Crown Prince Hussein proposed international action while chairing a UN Security Council open debate on the “Role of Youth in Countering Violent Extremism and Promoting Peace”. 

In August of the same year, Jordan hosted the Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security.

In December 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a Jordan-proposed resolution on youth. 

Bokova noted that Jordan's efforts continue until today and that the Kingdom has supported many of UNESCO's initiatives for the protection of heritage, intercultural dialogue and the fight against extremism. 

"Military power is necessary for the fight against aggressive extremist ideologies but it is not enough, as what we see today is a global fight for the minds and hearts of the young people," she said. 

Citing the prevention of violent extremism as one of UNESCO's top priorities, the international envoy noted UNESCO's efforts in this regard are carried out through the engagement of youth, as well as equipping young people with the necessary skills through school curricula and vocational training opportunities. 

These efforts include providing education for refugees, in partnership with the Education Ministry. 

"The lost generation in the making is a very easy prey for the extremist tool to kidnap them, use them and manipulate them for their strategies," Bokova told The Jordan Times.

The other aspect, she said, is about protecting diversity.

"Having tolerance nowadays is not enough; it is acceptance of the other and how we understand other cultures [that is needed]," Bokova noted.

One example of doing that is UNESCO's publication on the History of Islam in 6 volumes with different chapters, including ones on Islamic culture, sciences and philosophies. This publication was translated into many languages.

DEAD SEA — The World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 2017 is a platform with the potential to make the long-desired aspirations of youth for economic reform a living reality, WEF co-chairs agreed on Saturday. 

The WEF meeting, which is witnessing the participation of over 1,100 business and political leaders and representatives from civil society, international and youth organisations and the media from over 50 countries, can bring about changes that can improve the lives of young people in the region, particularly by improving their socioeconomic conditions, they said.

Speaking at a session for WEF co-chairs, CEO of Crescent Petroleum Majid Jafar said the meeting is a chance to emphasise opportunities and highlight positive stories from the region, in spite of all the political and economic challenges.

 He said the private sector has a substantial role in honing the skills of young people and enhancing their employability, adding that the MENA Regional Business Council has been working on tackling youth unemployment by upscaling the skills of 100,000 young people from the region and is committed to including 200,000 more young people.

Jafar also cited a need for top-to-bottom reforms, including enhancing the efficiency of the job market, modernising bankruptcy laws, simplifying the process of opening businesses and promoting good governance.

Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe Maurice Levy said the region, which has been witnessing an "evolution" of constructive energy and initiatives over the past 10 years, is "as energetic" as the West and is not short of talent, entrepreneurs or ideas.

However, the region is short of enabling environments for startups to take off, he said, highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship as key solutions for the "disease" of unemployment in the MENA region.

From Morocco, Khadija Idrissi Janati, founder and CEO of the KMK Groupe, agreed, adding that the young people want to be part of the decision-making process, not discussions only. She noted that young people in the region demand true opportunities that show that they are trusted, not marginalised or frustrated.

The second important part of the equation, according to her, is the empowerment of women in the job market, adding that supportive regulations alone do not help if not accompanied by efforts to change a spreading culture that women are complementary to men.

Arif M. Naqvi, founder and group chief executive of Abraaj Group, underlined the “great” economic potential in the region, which is home to a very diverse group of nearly 350 million people, adding that 180 million of the region’s inhabitants live in cities and that six cities in the region contribute to half of the region's gross domestic product.

"The region is at the edge of a very tangible change that is about to happen," he said, highlighting the need to "unleash" innovation and develop soft and hard infrastructure in order for the change to achieve the best results.

For his part, Dominic Batron, global managing partner at McKinsey & Company in the United Kingdom, said that there are “phenomenal”, talented people in the region, while many of them have been working outside of the MENA region, stressing a need for these talents to develop their home region too.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah will on Saturday open the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the Dead Sea.

HRH Crown Prince Hussein is expected to deliver the keynote speech at the opening session of the event, which is organised by WEF in cooperation with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, a Royal Court statement said. 

More than 1,100 political and business leaders from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the forum. Among the attendants are King Felipe VI of Spain, who arrived in Amman Friday, Iraqi President Fuad Massoum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili along with ministers from Arab and foreign countries. 

Jordan hosts the WEF regional meeting for the 9th time, out of a total of 16, since it first hosted the global gathering in 2003. 

Empowering women and the youth, creating jobs for the unemployed, addressing the needs of refugees and host communities and e-extremism will be some of the topics to be discussed during the sessions.

The forum, which will attract business, government and civil society leaders, as well as representatives from international organisations, youth and media, will witness the launch of several initiatives and projects.

The Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP), a collaborative initiative managed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Economic Forum, will be launching its MENA Hub with the support of Jordan to address specific financial challenges to projects in the Middle East and North Africa.

Seeking to scale up sustainable infrastructure investments throughout the region, the initiative brings together 36 governments, banks, pension funds and philanthropic organisations committed to mobilising $100 billion in blended finance for sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure in developing countries. Jordan is the first country in the region to join SDIP as a member.

“Enabling a Generational Transformation” is the theme of the forum, whose pillars include building inclusive economies, enabling collaborative innovation, empowering youth and supporting humanitarian efforts and diplomatic dialogue. 

The forum brings together social entrepreneurs from the Schwab Foundation, who are using modern business methods to achieve system change for marginalised communities, a high-level delegation of Iraqi faith leaders and religious experts from Sunni Islam, Shiite Islam and Christianity, as well as minority groups. With more than 80 per cent of the region’s population adhering to a religion, faith communities represent a powerful drive to help rebuild a war-torn Iraq, organisers said.

The forum will also witness the participation of refugees from the Zaatari camp, who will meet with the forum’s Regional Business Council to find innovative ways to build on the success of free trade zones, allowing refugee-made products to reach markets, along with major Jordanian providers who are part of the Internet for All initiative, which will be launched during the forum, aiming at ensuring Internet access for all.

The WEF meetings will also attract 100 start-ups from the Arab world — many of which have been founded under the most challenging circumstances — including Arabic voice-recognition software developed in Syria, the first e-mobile-wallet in Libya, a labour marketplace in Yemen and mobile games produced by a team in Gaza Strip, according to a statement posted on the WEF’s website.

Participants will also include young people, whose role will be crucial in moving the region forward, including a record number of Global Shapers (under 30 years old) and Young Global Leaders (under 40).

According to the forum’s agenda, participants will look into what is needed to achieve a more inclusive future in the region and will explore the causes and consequences of the Middle East’s infrastructure development now and through time.

How technology can be harnessed to provide quality and affordable and prevention-focused care for all are also among the issues to be discussed during the forum, along with the gap between humanitarian assistance and unmet needs and the needs of refugees and host communities alike.

As extremist groups have become increasingly adept at using the Internet and social media to recruit a generation that has grown up online, the participants will also look into how to deal with e-extremism. 

“The current reform momentum in the Middle East and North Africa is promising, but success is not guaranteed. Together with our long-term partner Jordan, the World Economic Forum is hosting its biggest-ever meeting of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region. We’re inviting them to advise leaders on new growth strategies that will bring prosperity and bolster peace efforts throughout the region,” said Mirek Dusek, head of Regional Strategies of the Middle East and North Africa at the World Economic Forum.

Other public figures attending the event include Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani, Princess Beatrice of York, the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Ghassan Hasbani, Federal Councillor of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Didier Burkhalter, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and Minister of Economic Affairs of Kuwait Hend Al Sabeeh, Minister of Economy and Commerce of Qatar Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation  Irina Georgieva Bokova, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly Clements, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross  Peter Maurer, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and Director General, International Organisation for Migration William Lacy Swing.

DEAD SEA — International travel writers and bloggers highlight Jordan as a safe and unique destination for adventure tourism, where travellers can indulge in a rich cultural experience.

In separate interviews with The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the AdventureNEXT Near East first regional conference that was held at the Dead Sea last week, travel experts highlighted the role of travel writing in narrating genuine stories that counter misconceptions about the impact of regional unrest on Jordan.

Paul Clammer, an English travel writer and guidebook author of Lonely Planet and Bradt travel guides, said Jordan has features that entitle it to be a "distinguished" adventure travel destination, noting that there has been "interesting" marketing of Jordan in this regard.

The tough times the tourism sector has witnessed over the past few years was, in some way, an opportunity that pushed stakeholders in Jordan to think of new ways to promote sites other than Petra, which will always be a major attraction, Clammer said.

To this end, marketing Jordan as an adventure destination rather than a Middle Eastern destination will change the misperception tourists may have about regional political tensions and unrest affecting Jordan's safety, he said.

In addition, the quality of products and services in hotels, home stays and other facilities must be developed at prices suitable for all budgets, said Clammer, who has lived in Amman for a year.

Kirsten Alana, an American photographer and blogger, said there is not enough written information or digital content in North America about Jordan's safety.

She said popular media over the past few decades have depicted Jordan as a beautiful and adventurous place, but safety has not been part of the discussion, adding that it is more common to talk about the Middles East as an unsafe destination, which is a generalisation that is unfair to safe countries in the region.

"Adventure travellers are some of the most open minded travelllers in terms of giving a chance to destinations that are misunderstood, so adventure travelers have a huge responsibility to help change the dialogue," Alana noted, citing a great opportunity for engaging in that dialogue.

She said women travellers coming to Jordan are greatly interested in meeting with women from local communities across the country and engaging in discussions with them to learn more about their lives, highlighting that women have the power to tell stories, share experiences and understand each other regardless of their cultural backgrounds.  

Brandon Presser, a travel expert, TV host and writer, said real adventure and cultural experiences can only be lived by oneself, because even filing or writing about any destination is merely transmitting intangible elements, an experience that is "beyond what you can click on a website".

"My passion is in connecting people by creating links between different people from different destinations; a process in which we can learn more about the world, ourselves and different people's perspective and how they see things," Presser said.  

AMMAN — The changing nature of the skills needed in the regional job market requires quality investments in education and reform of regulations, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Titled “The Future of Jobs and Skills in the Middle East and North Africa: Preparing the Region for the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the report highlighted the need to improve the future conditions of over 300 million people in the region, which is home to "one of the youngest populations of the world".

The region has so far realised 62 per cent of its full human capital potential, compared to a global average of 65 per cent, according to the report's findings.

The regional labour market's outlook is characterised by a low, yet, increasing participation of women, high rates of unemployment and under-employment, particularly among the youth and the relatively well-educated, and large but decreasing rates of public sector employment.

Youth unemployment in the region stands at 31 per cent, with university graduates constituting nearly 30 per cent of those unemployed, the report said.

In addition to youth unemployment, unemployment among women is another issue in the region. The discrepancy in women employment rates across the region reflects an "inefficient use of education investments".

While a number of countries in the region have medium to high-skilled labour, the nature of skills needed for picking up with the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” is changing.   

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterised by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human, according to World Economic Forum website High-skilled employment stands at 21 per cent on average, while middle-skilled jobs makes up for 66 per cent of all formal sector jobs, according to the report, which cited the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as the leading countries in terms of local availability of high-skilled jobs, mainly in the banking, finance, academia and engineering sectors.

The report claimed that jobs in the region are going through major changes to their skill profile, which is declining, stable or growing, according to the nature of the job.

The WEF's Future of Jobs analysis found that, by 2020, 21 per cent of the core skills needed in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and 41 per cent of those in Turkey will be different from the skills that were needed in 2015.

"Preparing for these disruptions and new opportunities, while addressing current challenges will require broad reforms and agile, iterative public-private collaboration efforts," the report stated.

All of these issues have to be addressed in order for countries of the region to realise their full human potential, the statement concluded.