VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #2058 3021333
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291333Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4027
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS CAIRO 002058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KIRF EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: INAUGURAL ARAB WORLD FORUM SEEKS SENIOR USG 
REPRESENTATION 
 
1.Key Points: --Egypt's International Economic Forum (EIEF) and the international consulting group Smadja and Associates will co-host the inaugural meeting of the Arab Global Forum on December 7-8, 2009 in Washington, D.C. --The Arab Global Forum is conceived and led by Shafik Gabr, one of Egypt's most dynamic and innovative entrepreneurs, and an excellent conduit to the Middle East business community. Post strongly recommends participation by senior USG officials as appropriate. --Senior USG involvement will also be an opportunity to follow up President Obama's June 4 message on economic reform and entrepreneurship in the region and set the stage for a 2010 White House entrepreneurship summit.
2.The Arab Global Forum, a partnership between EIEF and Smadja and Associates, will take place December 7-8, 2009 in Washington D.C. Billed as an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen American-Arab economic and business relations, the forum is expected to attract an audience of more than 300 business leaders and policy makers from the U.S. and the Middle East. Confirmed speakers include CEOs of some of the largest corporations in the U.S. and Middle East as well as academic experts from think tanks and universities.

3.The forum is organized by EIEF and Smadja and Associates. Formed in 1998, EIEF is an Egyptian NGO led by prominent members of Egypt's business community committed to developing and supporting economic reform policies in the country. Gabr serves as the chairman of the organization; he is also the founder of Egypt's American Chamber of Commerce. Smadja and Associates is a Switzerland-based consulting organization with offices in the Middle East and North Africa. Its primary programming activities include planning international economic conferences and business summits similar to the December global forum.

4.Forum organizers seek high-level USG participation in the event and have repeatedly contacted us to indicate their desire for a senior USG presence. In October, the forum extended invitations to a group of 10 administration officials, including VP Biden; Secretaries Clinton, Geithner, and Lahood; U/S Hormats; and A/S Feltman. Egypt is preparing to send a high-profile group to attend the forum. Its confirmed attendees include Health Minister Hatem El-Gabaly; Abdel Danish, Chairman of Exceed - one of the largest outsourcing companies in the Middle East; Mohammed Shafik Gabr, President of Artoc Group - a prominent Egyptian investment holding company; and Akil Beshir, Chairman of Telecom Egypt - the largest provider of fixed line services in the Middle East and Africa. Unconfirmed press reports state National Democratic Party Assistant Secretary General Gamal Mubarak may attend as well.

5.Comment: We view this Washington D.C. event as an excellent opportunity to engage the Egyptian and Middle East business community and believe that senior USG participation is warranted to demonstrate our commitment to a U.S.-Egypt and regional economic dialogue. Six months after President Obama's visit to Egypt, business leaders and government officials continue to reach out to us to express their strong support for his June 4 speech and to urge implementation of his economic-related initiatives. Senior USG representation at this event will be an opportunity to identify, address and shape business and economic discussions and demonstrate to participants that the USG will work in collaboration with Arab business leaders as they pursue economic reform in Egypt and across the region. Senior USG involvement will also be an opportunity to follow up President Obama's June message on economic reform and entrepreneurship in the region and set the stage for a 2010 White House entrepreneurship summit. Scobey