The Arab world must add 22,000 new jobs per day until 2020 mainly in the manufacturing sector to accelerate the growth and development and to combat the high unemployment rate, said a IMF report ahead of a major conference in Dubai.

The 7th MIT Pan-Arab Conference is being held at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi from January 19 to 20 under the theme 'Manufacturing for Jobs, Growth and Diversification.'

The MIT Arab Alumni Association (MIT AAA), with the lead sponsorship of Sadara Chemical Company and its parent companies, the Dow Chemical Company and Saudi Aramco, will be convening world and regional industry leaders this month to address the future of manufacturing and economic development in the Arab world, said the organisers.

The key topics will include institutional, regulatory, and macroeconomic issues pertaining to manufacturing; education, training and innovation in manufacturing and their impact on employment, entrepreneurship and investment opportunities; plus models for a globally competitive Arab manufacturing sector.

Conference delegates will include senior government and industry leaders from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America, MIT faculty, students and alumni, as well as regional business leaders and professionals.

The key speakers at conference include Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry; Abdullatif Al-Othman, governor, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority; Ahmed Chami, former Moroccan minister; Mohamed Al-Mady, Sabic vice chairman and CEO; Jim McIlvenny, senior VP of Dow Chemical; John Rice, vice chairman, GE; Homoon Kang, vice chairman, Samsung; Motassim Al-Maashouq, VP, Aramco; Amer Majali, chief commissioner, Development and Free Zones Commission, Jordan; Ahmed Yahia Al-Idrissi, executive director, Mubadala Industry; Ziad Al-Labban, CEO of Sadara Chemical Company; Dr Hani Shammah, the head of private equity, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Zuhair Allawi, the president of Dow Saudi Arabia.

Talal Kheir, the president of the MIT AAA, said the conference would focus on the future of manufacturing and its potential in meeting two of the Arab world’s most pressing demands: job creation and economic diversification.

MIT AAA’s vision is to promote the highest interests of humanity, to support science and technology education in the region, and to facilitate education of the diverse MIT community in the region.

"The objective is to bring together leaders in technology, policy, industry, education and finance to discuss innovations and showcase solutions that have the potential to significantly impact today’s global manufacturing challenges," he added.-TradeArabia News Service