Houston is set to host the second U.S.- Arab Economic Forum in September:
More than 1,500 American and Arab business, political and civic leaders will gather in Houston Sept. 14-16 for the 2005 U.S.-Arab Economic Forum. A biennial event supported by the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce, the Arab League and the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Forum will focus on improving economic ties and economic development as a source of societal change.
“Building on the long history of friendship between America and the Arab world is essential,” said George H. W. Bush, former U.S. President and honorary chair of the Forum. “The U.S.-Arab Economic Forum is a great concept that takes a fresh look at our existing ties while working to build new bridges. And during this time of great challenges — not only for the United States, but the world at large — nothing could be more important.”
Participants will hear from the CEOs of Boeing, Chevron Corporation, Cisco Systems, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Marathon Oil, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the president of Shell Oil Company as well as the Energy Ministers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center President Dr. John Mendelsohn and BBC Global News Director Richard Sambrook.
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Other speakers include Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa, USAID Director Andrew Natsios, bestselling author Dr. Deepak Chopra, Houston Mayor Bill White, Harvard Business Review Editor Thomas Stewart and Arab International Women’s Forum Chair Haifa Al Kaylani.
