Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel (left), Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presides over a press conference Wednesday for this year’s Jeddah Economic Forum. With him is Adnan H. Mandourah, secretary general of the chamber.

Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH – Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), announced Wednesday that this year’s Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) will be addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding sustainable job creation for young people.



At a press conference at the JCCI’ headquarters, with the attendance of senior officials of JCCI, Kamel said  “the upcoming forum will take place from 18-20th of March 2014 at the Jeddah Hilton under the patronage of the Governor of Makkah Region Prince Mishaal Bin Abdullah.”



He noted that “growth through the youth” is the logo of the 14th edition of Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF 2014).  He said “the forum will discuss ways to create 15 million jobs in Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries such as UAE, Egypt and Qatar with the help of economic policies that would rein in unemployment in the region.”



“Due to the rising number of unemployed young people in the Kingdom, we believe it is our duty to discuss this important issue and to find the right solution. Therefore, we are inviting this year about 30 Ministers, experts and specialists who have been contributing and striving hard to tackle to youth unemployment,” he added.



Speaking about long-term plans to fight unemployment, Kamel said it includes review of the country’s educational, training system to meet labor market needs and how parents raise their kids.



“As a reason for the rising number of unemployed young Saudis, some parents should be blamed because I believe that those parents have spoiled their kids and did not care to teach them how to be responsible,” he emphasized.



The JCCI chairman of the organizer of the forum said the unemployment rate in the region is the highest in the world, and it’s imperative to absorb the highest number of local youth to the work force, which could be achieved with the help of improved economic conditions, creation of employment security, special attention on the welfare of the people and raising the income level.



He explained that there are around 2 million unemployed in Saudi Arabia with the presence of 10 million non-Saudis who are employed. “The region needs to create fifteen million job opportunities by 2015, and 80 million jobs by 2030, to handle the surge of youths looking for employment,” he said.



The sessions of the forum will discuss the best means to improve the quality of life for citizens. The projected GDP growth in the ME for the year is 3.8 percent, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF).



Various sessions of the forum will discuss topics such as creation of jobs from the demand side and development of manpower from the supply side, and the need for better work environment, encouragement of business pioneers, creation of close links between investors and business sectors, development of work skills in the youth and aspirations of the youth about their jobs. There will also be separate sittings to discuss opportunities in the tourism sector and transport infrastructure.



The Forum is a recipient of the Makkah Award for Excellence, 2013.  Sheikh Saleh said “this prestigious award was the collaborative effort and culmination of the leadership of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah, the astute guidance of Prince Mishaal bin Majed, the Mayor of Jeddah, and the diligent teamwork at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”