The buildup to the Jeddah Economic Forum was still at the initial stages mid-Thursday. A late start has added pressure to the erection teams, but they report that this is part of the event business and that they will still be able to complete on time.

JEDDAH, 10 February 2006 — One of the Middle East’s most prestigious economic events begins tomorrow with the opening of the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) at the Hilton Hotel tomorrow.

The three-day JEF 2006, with “Seeding potentials for economic growth: Honoring identity and celebrating common grounds” as its theme will have 35 sessions with some of the most prominent national, regional and international participants, among them heads of state and decision makers, government officials, businessmen and businesswomen, economic strategists, academics and entrepreneurs.

Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed will formally inaugurate the event at 9 p.m. tomorrow, although the day’s sessions begin at 9 a.m. with opening remarks from JEF Chairman and Enany Group Vice Chairman Amr Enany. This year’s forum will have a global audience as the BBC, CNN and SkyNews are all reporting live from the venue.

The day’s sessions include “Saudi Arabia — Vision 2020,” “Saudi Arabia in the global village,” “Recognizing diversity in the globalized world,” “Greenfields for the future - the King Abdullah Economic City,” “Entrepreneurship in education and the workplace,” “The Middle East in the American media,” “The Gulf economy in the global context,” “The economic opinions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South-South cooperation” and “Political adversity and the art of diplomacy.”

Speakers of the day include Minister of Culture & Information Iyad Madani, UN Undersecretary-General Thorayya Ahmed Obaid, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Governor Amr Dabbagh, and Mohamed A. Al-Abbar, director general, department of economic development, government of Dubai and chairman of Emaar Properties, UAE.

“With an expected delegate turnout of over 2,000 like last year, the Hilton Hotel has equipped its 12 meeting and conference rooms, including the 2,500 capacity Hilton Hall, 1,500-capacity Al Qasr ballroom, restaurants, and terrace and entrance lobbies for the forum,” hotel General Manager Hagop Doghramadjian said yesterday.

Organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board, which operates under the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the forum, now in its seventh year, calls for the honor and recognition of culture, identity and diversity as the building blocks for a world of “common grounds” rather than a global economy of “one size fits all.”

Sarah Al-Ayed, managing director of SACCS, the Jeddah-based company organizing the PR and media for JEF, said there had been a quantum shift in the demand for media access this year. “The forum has truly gone worldwide,” she said.

“The arrival of the three global news organizations wanting to broadcast the event shows the importance of the forum, but it puts pressure on everyone to perform to world standards. It’s a challenge and I’m confident that all those involved can meet it.”

In response to the massively increased media interest, a dedicated communication suite has been set up in the hotel and a media pool in the conference hall.

The event makes great demands on the teams who build the stages, install the light show and the sound systems. John Landon, the event producer from the UK event organizers Pantechnicon, is well used to the pressures of build-ups.

Involved in launches and events in Saudi Arabia since 1983, Landon said that the demands of the 2006 JEF are pushing new limits.

JEF has called on the UK’s exhibition and event management expertise on many occasions. The UK has a long history of world famous events ranging from the Royal Agricultural Show through to major trade and retail events at the custom built National Exhibition Center in Coventry in the UK Midlands. Landon had nothing but praise for his team. Sixty or so electricians, a sound and light crew along with runners and laborers were swarming over the Hilton conference hall yesterday.