World Economic Forum discusses global crisis in Turkey
Posted by meb at October 30th, 2008
The first “World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia 2008” is being held today in İstanbul. Government and business leaders from various European countries, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East are participating in the forum, planned to last until Nov. 1.
The forum, also known as a “mini-Davos,” is organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF), famously known for organizing the high-profile Davos Meetings. Headquartered in Cologny, near Geneva, the forum’s mission statement says its “committed to improving the state of the World.” It claims to be impartial and not-for-profit and is not tied to any political, partisan or national interests. It has observer status on the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government. Its highest governance body is the Foundation Board, comprising 22 members, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Queen Rania of Jordan.
Heavy guns from multinational corporations as well as governmental regulatory bodies are participating in the forum’s meeting in İstanbul to shed light on what is occurring in the current financial crisis. Herman Gref, the CEO of Russian Sberbank RF; Muhtar Kent, the president and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company; Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner for competition; and Jean Lemierre, the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, COMMA are named as co-chairs for the forum.
“This meeting is an opportunity to discuss cross-regional challenges and opportunities and how the business environment is developing across the region at this crucial moment,” said Christophe Weber, the head of Europe and Central Asia for WEF in an interview.
Organizers say they chose Turkey because it is a place which symbolizes the merging of continents and civilizations and is the epitome of economic buoyancy. Turkey is the perfect meeting place for such a prestigious meeting, the statement posted on the WEF Web site explained.
The WEF meeting in İstanbul will gather representatives of regional and international business communities and officials, as well as cultural and religious leaders across Europe, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East to discuss common challenges faced by regions and to develop common ways to solve them.
This event strives to achieve three main goals: to examine business opportunities in the region and define strategies to compete with Asian economies in the context of the global economic crisis; to address cross-regional challenges, uncertainties, conflicting interests and regional geopolitical security; and to develop intercultural and inter-religious dialogue as a necessary condition for prosperity, stability and security across the countries.
The meeting will bring together international and regional business leaders and government representatives, as well as media, cultural and religious leaders from across Europe, western and Central Asia and the Middle East to explore the common challenges faced by the regions and to map the path towards a common collaborative future.
The program will focus on business opportunities, energy security, the role of Central Asia, and Turkey’s leadership role in the region. The three goals of the meeting, convened under an overarching theme of “Confronting Challenges in Defining a Collaborative Future” are to:
* Examine business opportunities in the region and define strategies to compete with the influence of the Asian economies and in the wake of global economic slowdown
* Address cross-regional challenges, uncertainties and conflicting interests and set a regional geopolitical and security agenda
* Advance intercultural and inter-religious dialogue as a precondition for prosperity, stability and security across the regions
Sessions will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation in Russian, Turkish and Arabic in the plenary sessions.
The forum held its last meeting in İstanbul in 2006 when over 400 high-level participants from international business and political leadership, as well as top Turkish business figures and government officials, attended.
source: Today’s Zaman
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