Economic Development

 

 

Subtopics to be discussed at Envision Arabia Summit 2011:

1) Global and Regional Trade - In an era of globalization and an increasing trend of economic blocs and alliances in a competitive and interdependent environment, the Arab World lags behind significantly. Arab countries' share in the world trade is small at a mere 4.2% exports and 2.8% imports. More astonishingly, inter-Arab trade is at a mere 10% of total trade in the Arab World, despite the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA). The discussion seeks to identify and analyze the causes of such a glaring deficiency, and think of ways to improve the situation. It would also discuss the possible benefits of increased inter-Arab trade.

 2) Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurship is generally seen as a major driver for economic growth, often described as a possible solution to dealing with unemployment and other economic deficiencies. However establishing one's business remains a difficult endeavor in the MENA region. Indeed, the private sector's share in total investment in the Arab world has consistently been the lowest in the world. The workshop would seek to identify the political, economic, social and educational obstacles to entrepreneurship, and discuss ways to encourage and facilitate it. It would also help the participants build the tools required to become successful entrepreneurs.

3) Wealth Disparity, Poverty and Unemployment - Despite general perceptions, the Arab World still suffers from significant poverty and wealth disparity despite general GDP growth. Indeed 100 million Arabs live under the poverty line (1$ per day) and 13% suffer from food shortage on a daily basis. With the critical situation of youth unemployment, there is a very big risk of having an impoverished generation in the coming decades, as well as causing social and political instability and fueling extremist ideologies. The unemployment rate in the Arab World is one of the worst in the world, ranging up to a 14% rate, affecting especially the youth despite most being educated. The unemployment rate is expected to rise in the coming decades, thus the situation requires the creation of 2.5 million jobs annually. The workshop will seek to explore the economic, social and political causes and consequences of the increasing inequality, poverty and the rise of unemployment, as well as discuss some possible solutions and ideas to alleviate the situation, while taking economic, structural and other kind of differences between Arab countries into account.

4) Green Economy - In a context of climate change and increasing scarcity of natural resources, the Arab World faces challenges such as increasing desertification, air and marine pollution and fresh water scarcity.  The creation of green economies has thus become the focus of study and debate as a means for the Arab world to adapt to these changes and to set itself on a path of long term sustainable development. The workshop will seek to explore the Arab world's environmental challenges, taking into account regional differences as well as the differences with regards to government policies undertaken in that regard. It would then discuss ways to promote and implement a green economy and how viable such an endeavor is.  

 

ADI Economic Development Chair: Ayman Kuzbari

Dr. Ishac Diwan – Speaker and moderator (Global and Regional Trade)  

Ishac Diwan is a lecturer on public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and is the director for Africa and the Middle East at the growth lab of the Center for International Development. Current research interests include growth strategies, the political economy of development, and the pro-active management of natural resources, with a special interest in Africa and the Middle East.  Dr. Diwan is also directing the Economic and Political Transformation program of the Economic Research Forum. Dr. Diwan also worked on conflict prevention and on state building (in Palestine, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Yemen, Guinea) and has participated in the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Darfur Peace Negotiations, and the Oslo negotiations, in addition to several projects which promoted development.

Mr. Tarek Madani – Moderator (Entrepreneurship)

Tarek Madany is a young software engineering professional and entrepreneur with eight years of experience from reputable high technology organizations and startups. Tarek completed his MBA in entrepreneurial studies from Babson College, Boston, MA with a concentration in Social entrepreneurship, and is currently living in Boston and is working on his new founded company MeaCars.com

Mrs. Giulia El-Dardiry – Moderator (Wealth Disparity, Poverty and Unemployment)

Giulia El-Dardiry is a PhD student in the Anthropology Department at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her research interests include forced migration in the Middle East region, refugees, and the politics of humanitarian aid. Giulia completed a Bachelor of Arts at McGill University and Master's of Public Health at the University of Toronto

Mr. Omar Tabba - Moderator (Green Economy)

As CEO, Omar Tabba is charged with overseeing all aspects of YWire Technologies’ business. YWire Technologies is a Montreal based manufacturer of patent pending building automation solutions that reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency in commercial buildings. Omar has extensive experience in the building automation and construction sectors. Prior to his work in building automation, Omar worked as a consultant on the Athens Metro communication system as well as a cost engineer on a large hydro-electric power plant construction project in Quebec.