Cherie Blair speaks about the increasingly important role of women in Saudi society.

reated in 2000, the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) gathered about 2,700 heads of state and international decision-makers in the city of Jeddah in February. Under the patronage of Prince Abdel Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Mecca Region, the theme of the 2006 Forum was 'Seeding Potentials for Economic Growth: Honoring Identity and Celebrating Common Grounds'. It was also attended by several members of the Saudi Royal Family and government officials including Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, Chairman of Kingdom Holding, Prince Sultan bin Salman (INTERVIEW), Secretary General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, Hashim Yamani, Minister of Commerce, Ghazi Al Gosaibi, Minister of Labor, Jubarah bin Eid Al Suraiseri, Minister of Transportation, and Abdullah Alireza, Minister of State.

The JEF was established in 2000 at the request of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. International, regional and local leaders from the private and public sectors convene annually to discuss global and regional economic, political and social trends, to offer solutions to current and future challenges, and to enhance cooperation among business leaders and organizations. "From the very beginning we set out to establish the Jeddah Economic Forum as an event that would achieve international recognition and each year we have raised the bar to set even higher standards of excellence," says Amr Enany, Chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the crowning of King Abdullah gave special relevance to the 2006 edition of the JEF.

Delegates discussed the intricacies of social diversity that affect economic growth around the world, with the objective of counteracting a global "one size fits all' economy by first recognizing and honoring cultural identity and identifying common grounds as building blocks for sustainable economic growth.

In his opening statement, Prince Abdel Majeed bin Abdulaziz commented that globalization must be accompanied by a respect for cultural diversity. “The contemporary world does not tolerate isolation, and at the same time it recognizes diversity of cultures. The subsequent success of the development plans depends on such a balance,” he said. He also stressed the importance of dialogue and intellectual exchange to foster economic progress.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore advocated stronger links between the West and the Arab world. “The 21st century has to be a century of renewal, and our ability to overcome these kinds of cycles of disrespect and violence is the key to making it a century of revival,” he said.

For his part, the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information, Iyad Madani, highlighted the kingdom’s role as a moderating force in the region and the rest of the world. “Saudi Arabia will continue in its historic role as a moderating force throughout the world. It will peruse its tremendous effort to use its resources for the welfare and growth of its people, society and institutions. It will be a source of a creative, authentic voice in great debates of our time. It will remain a vanguard against terrorists and terrorism.”

Mr. Madani also encouraged women to increase their representation in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) before running for office. “The initiative should be taken by women activists,” he said.

Cherie Blair, the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, made a plea for women’s rights, stressing that the exclusion of women from the work force was undermining the kingdom’s economic potential. “It leads to a huge loss of human potential that has a massive cost for society, male and female,” she said. “Human rights and development go hand in hand. Educating girls is one of the most important investments a country can make in its future. I believe women will soon be allowed to vote in elections here.”