The Sixth Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) to be held from January 21 to 24 will offer insight on the continuing economic and financial problems affecting the world as well as positive ideas to address the most pressing global challenges.

GCF 2012 will be hosted by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia), which oversees the foreign direct investment (FDI) flow into Saudi Arabia and bring together hundreds of business and NGO leaders, intellectuals and media persons, a statement from the event organisers said. 

Every year, the event addresses the concept of competitiveness from diverse perspectives presented by the keynote speakers and panel sessions attended by leaders and experts in various fields. 

GCF 2012 will be held in Riyadh and will take place just before the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, and is expected to provide a foretaste of the economic discussions in the Swiss town, the statement said.

The event’s key theme is ‘The Entrepreneurship Imperative’. The speakers’ list for GCF 2012 consists over 100 business leaders representing diverse sectors such as the Government, NGOs, Education and Training, Arts, Media and Advertising, Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Finance Consultancy, and industries such as Aviation, Chemicals, Electricals and Automobiles.

Saudi Arabian leaders and Government ministers attending GCF 2012 as speakers and panelists include Prince Turki Al Faisal, chairman of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Prince Faisal Bin Abdulla, Minister of Education, and Adel Fakih, Minister of labour.

Canada’s former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, South Korea’s former prime minister, Chung un-chan will also address the forum.

Different panel sessions will explore the main theme from different angles. One session titled " Generation C-Click, Connect, Communicate, Collaborate" will discuss the future of digital connectivity and dependence on the virtual world in conducting business.

A second session titled "The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur" explores the evolution of entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs continue to change their business practices over the years. One of the sessions titled "Artrepreneurship" looks at art as an industry that creates business opportunities, generates profit and creates jobs.

Abdulla Uzaib, CEO of GCF, said: “The GCF is a platform where opinions and ideas from around the world converge. We will hear insights from business leaders, NGOs and thinkers not only about our key theme of entrepreneurship, but also about the major economic and social challenges the world is facing now.”

The forum is also a major networking event for participants from around the world and regional businesses. There is considerable emphasis on startups and medium businesses, and is one of the most promising sectors in the Saudi economy, especially in terms of creating new jobs. 

Sagia has several ongoing initiatives that encourage competitiveness and growth, with considerable focus on the youth. These include the Saudi fast growth 100 (SFG100), most competitive youth, and Saudi responsible competitiveness index. – TradeArabia News Service