The Arab Economic Forum (AEF) Honors Nine Arab Personalities in Beirut
On May 11, 2006, the organizers of the 14th edition of the Arab Economic Forum, which was held in Beirut under the patronage of the Lebanese Prime Minister, HE Fouad Siniora, honored nine members of the regional business community and presented them with three classes of awards in recognition of their distinguished achievements.
The secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, H.H Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, attended the ceremony, along with the ministers of investment, finance, trade and economy in Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan and Mauritania. Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group organized the Forum in partnership with the Central Bank of Lebanon, the association of Banks in Lebanon and the IFC.
The Group first introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 during the Arab Economic Forum to pay tribute to prominent and rising entrepreneurs whose leadership and achievements have enriched business in the Arab region.
Lebanon’s President of the Council of Ministers, H.E. Fouad Siniora and Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group General Manager, presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to:
- Mr. Amr Dabbagh, Governor, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, in recognition of his success and role in setting up a comprehensive investment strategy for KSA.
- Mr. Mohamed Ali Al-Abbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, UAE, which has become one of the largest international companies in the field of real estate construction.
- Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Zamel, Chairman of Zamel Group, Saudi Arabia, and President of Saudi Export Development Center, in recognition of Zamel Group’s leading role in Saudi industry and Saudi exports to more than 42 countries.
- Dr. Saad Al-Barrak, Chief Executive Officer of MTC Group, in recognition of the expansion MTC Group has achieved within a short period of time, as the Group, today boasts more than 14 million subscribers in more than 19 Arab and African countries.
This year, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group has launched two additional awards, the Rafic Hariri Leadership Award and the Basil Fleihan Young Leaders Award. The awards were presented during a dinner held by HE Saad Rafic Hariri at the Kraytem Palace, in the presence of the Lebanese Prime Minister, HE Fouad Siniora and Mrs. Yasma Fleihan.
The Rafic Hariri Leadership Awards presented to:
- Mr. Esam Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Finance House, in recognition of his role in activating Gulf investment in the Lebanese banking and real estate sectors.
- Mr. Yaser Malawani, Chairman of EFG-Hermes Holding, in recognition of the Group’s investment in Lebanon through its 20% share in Audi Bank.
- Mr. Marzouk Al-Kharafi, Deputy President of Kharafi Group of Companies which has previous and latest investments in the Lebanese banking, tourism, services and real estate sectors.
- HE Dr. Jihad Azour, Lebanon’s minister of finance, in recognition of his distinguished performance, Dr. Azour will carry the Basil Fleihan torch at the Arab Economic Forum for young leaders.
- HE Sheikh Tariq Bin Faisal Al-Qasami, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, in recognition of the promotion and marketing role he plays in attracting investments to the UAE and in recognition of his performance as one of the distinguished young leaders of the Emirates.
