Jeddah Economic Forum: Laying the groundwork for change

by Randa Fahmy Hudome
Courtesy Saudi Information Office

“Sometimes the helping hand we need is right at the end of our own arm.”
- H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan, Jeddah Economic Forum, January 18, 2004

In a sense, the Middle East is indeed pulling itself up by its proverbial bootstraps – and arms, and hands, and minds. There is a realization that many nations in this region must become self-sufficient on the economic front while becoming self-reliant on change from within their societies.

These facts were apparent during my recent trip to the Middle East, where I attended the 5th Annual Jeddah Economic Forum. I began my Middle East journey – which was focused on energy issues – in Riyadh, spent two days in Dhahran, flew to Kuwait, and then to Dubai.

I arrived in Jeddah after nine solid days on the road, and I was quite curious about what to expect. In these other cities I witnessed incredible diversity and trans-formations as a result of time, war, international trade and internal debate.

Before I arrived in Jeddah, many Saudis and foreigners alike described the seaside city as the “Miami Beach” of Saudi Arabia. The beaches were truly spectacular and the seaside inviting.

But what became clear to me was the symbolism in Jeddah – it is a city which represents not only the great diversity in Saudi Arabia itself, but also the change which is gradually taking place there and throughout the Middle East.

I attended the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) as part of a Council on Foreign Relations delegation led by Dr. Ray Irani, CEO of Occidental Petroleum. Our delega-tion consisted of leading American businessmen, business-women, scholars, professors and lawyers.

The JEF itself was an extremely well executed event. I have been to many of these international forums – Davos included – but never have I seen such a well-run produc-tion. All of the presentations started and ended punctu-ally, seating was plentiful, the acoustics were good, and the question and answer sessions were lively discussions and debates of different viewpoints. It was quite easy to mingle with the dignitaries, and all of the attendees were high level, successful businessmen and women.

The first day was devoted to the local agenda: outlining a Saudi vision for economic growth. Recognizing that they must build a foundation for sustainable wealth, the Saudis are wisely reaching out to new partners in search of economic diversification. This day was also devoted to social change and included presentations by prominent Saudi women debating the roles for themselves within Saudi society. As expected, this was a fascinating debate, which captured the attention of all audience members.

The second day of the Forum focused on examples of recent transformations in the region. Presenters such as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan spoke of their various experiences of internal changes in their societies and governments.

The third and final day was devoted to globalization and how changes in the world affect each country individually. Presentations featured former President Bill Clinton, Hollywood actors Chevy Chase and John Cusak, Dr. Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum, and Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director General of the World Trade Organization. The message was clear: as all of our economies become intertwined, so will our social inter-action. As such, we are destined to learn from each other’s successes and failures.

In all the sessions, both during the presentations and question and answer periods, the theme was strikingly similar: change – when to do it and how to do it – economically and socially.

Saudi citizens realize that change is inevitable, but there is great debate about the “when” and “how.” Presenters from around the world were there to say, “We changed and we will support and encourage you in your quest to change” – in a very positive way. It was almost as if those presenters were the coaches and the Saudi citizens were the players, with everyone on the same team and learning from experience. Thus, as so eloquently stated by Her Majesty Queen Rania, the Saudis themselves can begin the process of change by looking inward – and they were off to a great start in Jeddah.

That was the formal part of the program. During short breaks in between the presentations, I mingled in the women’s section. We drank strong Arabic coffee and fresh mango juice, talked and exchanged business cards. I received gifts from many entrepreneurial women who had set up booths highlighting their businesses – gourmet chocolate shops, perfume factories, artisan galleries. I met two sisters who owned their own financial services company. They had two offices: one in Jeddah and one on Wall Street in New York.

Women such as these were clearly not the “oppressed women” who are so often portrayed in the Western media. Under all those abaiyas were smart and savvy businesswomen networking in a crowd. These are the women who are destined to make changes in Saudi society.

The social aspects of the Forum were equally illumi-nating. Prominent members of the Jeddah business community hosted lunches and dinners. The true Middle Eastern architecture of their homes was spectacular, the food abundant and appetizing, the entertainment fasci-nating, and the conversation stimulating. As I departed a lovely lunch hosted by a gracious Saudi woman, with arms full of gifts, one of my American colleagues remarked, “Only in the Middle East do the hosts give the guests a gift for coming to their houses. Southern hospitality pales in comparison to this.”

Upon my departure from Jeddah, I could not help but feel the pull of wanting to return – for the beautiful seaside, for the hospitality, for the women, but most all to see what changes will have taken place upon my return. These changes will take place from within – the citizens – pulling themselves up by their own prover-bial bootstraps.

The message of economic and social self-sufficiency is starting to come of age in the Arab world. They looking eastward, westward and, yes, inward as they the groundwork for the years to come.