Introduction

Under the slogan: "Learning from the Future", the World Economic Forum on the Middle East will hold its annual meeting in Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt on May 18 – 20, 2008. Attending will be more than 1500 participants representing 55 countries.

The three-day gathering will focus on a number of issues, the most important are achieving peace in the Middle East, realizing Euro-Mediterranean unity, and finding solutions to water problems in the Middle East.

Other topics to be discussed include tourism, investment, energy, sustainable development, and economic growth as well as optimizing use of oil price rises, exploring ways to lower food price-increases, and the effects of global inflation on Middle East countries. Discussions will also focus on projects taking place in Egypt and Jordan.

President Hosni Mubarak will deliver the opening speech on May 18.
On his part, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said that Egypt's economic progress has turned it into a magnate for international organizations and members of the world's corporate community.