(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) There is no better investment than in youth and in empowering them in their home countries especially given that the Arab world is replete with creative young minds."
Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has called on governments in the Middle East and North Africa to invest in qualified young people to stop the migration of Arab minds. She also sought young leaders to be given an opportunity to discuss their views ideas and aspirations at the upcoming World Economic Forum.
She was speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘The Youth Imperative: What shifts are necessary to equip the region’s youth for a future of peace and prosperity?’ during the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa. The event concluded on Saturday in Jordan in the presence of more than 900 key government business and civil society leaders representing 50 countries from the region and beyond.
Shaikha Bodour said: “There is no better investment than in youth and in empowering them in their home countries especially given that the Arab world is replete with creative young minds that often resort to migrating abroad due to lack of opportunities at home.”
She emphasised the importance of offering a platform for young people at the World Economic Forum to play a role in shaping their own future solving problems notably unemployment and finding practical solutions to challenges facing the region.
Shaikha Bodour the first Emirati woman to co-chair the world economic event also called to empower youth in order to become effective contributors to the economic social and political development of their countries and to achieve peace and prosperity in the region.
She was joined in the session by Kuwaiti businessman Omar Kutayba Alghanim CEO of Al Ghanim Industries; Carolina de Borbon Parma head and representative for partnerships Switzerland UNRWA; and Mahmoud Jibril leader of the National Forces Alliance of Libya.
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber UAE Minister of State a delegation from Sharjah composed of representatives from government departments and global figures attended the event.
Shaikha Bodour stressed that Arab youth should be seen as a national wealth and an opportunity to achieve development and prosperity in the region.
She called for concerted efforts between Arab governments and people to push ahead with the development process.
She said: “It’s a collective responsibility not just the governments’ responsibility. I think everyone should play a role… parents governments the private sector and civil society.”
On the first day of the forum Shaikha Bodour took part in a panel discussion at the Young Global Leaders Community Bonding event held as part of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. She delivered a speech in which she called for a plan of action for youth empowerment and full engagement in all walks of life in the Arab world.
The Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) — an integral part of the World Economic Forum — aims to make a positive impact on the global agenda by engaging the YGL community in initiatives and dialogues related to specific global challenges they collectively identify with.
The 2015 World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa held under the theme of ‘Creating a Regional Framework for Prosperity and Peace through Public-Private Cooperation’ is an international platform committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship.
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