Ghobash to lead UAE delegation to Second Arab Forum on Development and Employment

Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour, will lead the UAE delegation to the Second Arab Forum for Development and Employment: towards social protection and sustainable development, which starts in Saudi capital Riyadh next Monday. Beirut - ILO Director-General Guy Ryder will provide the keynote address to participants at the opening session of the Second Arab Forum for Development and Employment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday 24 February. The World Bank, in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Arab Labor Organization (ALO), are organizing the Forum from February 24- 26, 2014. The Ministers of Finance, Labor, Social Affairs and Education will be invited from all 21 Arab League member countries, along with representatives from the private sector, trade unions, social insurance and training institutions, civil society and relevant international and regional organizations. While Arab League countries have taken many positive steps on the issue of youth unemployment and extending access to social services to all citizens, they recognize that more must be done to address unemployment and social exclusion, the World Bank says. The forum will present the challenge of low employment productivity equilibrium in Arab league member countries with discussions focused on market inefficiency and inequity, while exploring strategies to better engage Arab populations in economic activity. Ahmed Luqman, The Director General of the Arab Labor Organization, explained how this forum is a continuation of the first forum convened in Doha 2008, which reflects the ALO's commitment towards enhancing employment opportunities. Luqman emphasized that the aim and theme of the 2014 Forum reflects the ALO and World Bank's mutual interest in eradicating poverty and decreasing unemployment rates in the Arab League countries. He urged the forum to "set the grounds for a mutual understanding of the challenges Arab countries face as the basis for a collective commitment towards devising solutions through an integrated and comprehensive development approach." The Forum, whose theme is "Towards Social Protection and Sustainable Development", will discuss ideas for an integrated development framework for the Arab region that combines social protection and sustainable economic development. The conference will conclude with the release of a joint statement, The Riyadh Declaration, carrying the endorsement and commitments of all parties. The Declaration will contain both recommendations for and an appreciation of the value of engaging in comprehensive reforms aimed at building the human capital of the poorest and most vulnerable , contributing to economic growth, and boosting shared prosperity at the national level across the region.