Doha Forum to Mull New Approaches to Economic Development, Says Al Rumaihi

Doha, May 08 (QNA) A new approach to sustainable economic development, insight into the global political situation and the roles of the media, art, technology and sport as drivers of transformation will be mulled at a key conference opening here Monday the Doha Sheraton Hotel.
Speaking to the media on the eve of the Doha Forum and Enriching the Middle East s Economic Future Conference, HE Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow Up Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said, "This conference will discuss new ideas and approaches to enhance economic development, the roles of the creative community, technology and the political transformations in the region as well as the challenges."
Briefing the media on the three-day conference HE Al Rumaihi said eminent speakers and experts from various fields will offer insights into topics like economic challenges, risk assessment, art as an engine of social change, the media s role in a changing world, technology as a tool for communication and the political future of the Middle East.
Center for Middle East Development (CMED) and University of California, Los Angeles Professor Steven L Spiegel who was also present at the media conference said, "We are not looking at development in terms of the usual economic development. We will be taking a holistic look which engages key segments of society the performing arts, technology and the business of sports." He praised Qatar and the Foreign Ministry as well as HE Al Rumaihi for this forum, "We are very pleased to be here and to be working with the Doha Forum as we have done over the past three years," said Spiegel.
"We are concentrating on new forms of development and talking about strategies and the process of development in all its manifestations," he said.
The feature of this conference is a total of 20 workshops on topics like Political Transformation in the Region , Role of Civil Societies in Law-Awareness Development and the Middle East Economy During Regional Turmoil which will be chaired by experts.
More than 600 participants from 80 countries, including a contingent of 50 from the US, are participating in the Doha Forum.
On the second day of the conference a major report The Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water - on water security prepared by around 100 leaders, serving and former ministers and experts from seven countries, and sponsored by Switzerland and Sweden will be unveiled, said Spiegel. (QNA)