The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WSIE) is the largest gathering of its kind in the Middle East. To be held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from 1 – 3 April 2006, this conference aims at helping emerging nations achieve global competitiveness through initiative and innovation by creating practical solutions that address the most pressing issues facing emerging markets as well as those of the Arab world. The 2006 World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship will unite 800 of the world’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs who will come together to improve the state of the global economy. WSIE has so far confirmed more than 85 renowned business, political and social leaders as speakers from across the globe, organizers announced at a press conference recently held in Dubai. The Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Al Zu’bi will be representing Jordan in the coming summit.
Speaking at the conference, Sam Hamdan, Chairman of the Global Leadership Team (GLT), the strategic development and execution leader of the event, stated: “We are honoured to be bringing such an array of political and business figures together for this Summit. WSIE will create a network community for innovators and entrepreneurs who share the focus on emerging nations. Top representatives from the regional and international business community will communicate how emerging nations can best prepare themselves for global competition.”
He highlighted the significance of holding the summit in the Middle East, “a region that is witnessing phenomenal growth in non traditional industries. This growth will need to be sustained beyond the initial boom and therein lies the challenge.”
He concluded by saying: “We are of the opinion that the new generation of Arab Leaders and young businessmen of the region will ensure the region continues to grow beyond just the boom.”
The event is being sponsored by a number of key regional and international organizations that include The Kanoo Group, PepsiCo, Cisco Systems, and HP.
Commenting on the WSIE at the conference, Mr. Mishal Hamed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group one of conference’s sponsors, said: “The Kanoo Group has always been admired for its global vision and has remained committed to the progress and development of the entire region. The private sector in the region has a pivotal role in creating opportunities for future generations. Keeping this in perspective, the Group was of the view that the World Summit of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is the perfect platform to communicate these messages as it will be the largest gathering of its kind to be held”.
Also in attendance was Samer Alkharrat, General Manager – Gulf Region and Pakistan, Cisco Systems, who said; “We at Cisco are proud to support the ‘World Summit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ which is aimed at enabling the Arab World achieve global competitiveness. Entrepreneurship and innovation is synonymous with Cisco's corporate personality and is strongly reflected in providing support to our customers. Since the company's inception by a
small group of computer scientists from Stanford-University in the early 80s, the company has pioneered the successful development of Internet Protocol (IP) based networking technologies, changing the way we work, live, play and learn.”
Finally, Mr. Richard D. Evans Commercial Vice President for PepsiCo International’s [PI’s] Middle East & Africa Region stated: “The World Summit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an ideal opportunity for the private sector in the MENA region to meet innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the globe. The interest of PepsiCo is in line with the efforts of the WSIE in finding solutions to develop the region and this is what we can hope to achieve from the forum and dialogue that the WSIE will provide”.
The three-day conference will present a knowledge-sharing platform for the economic growth of emerging nations. Having confirmed a strong line up of leading international figures such as Dr. Deepak Chopra, Mr. Michael D. White, Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo International Businesses, Dr. Johnathan Lord, Chief Innovation Officer, Humana, Dr. David Polinchock, Founder & Chairman, Brand Experience Lab. A number of leading regional experts will also be speaking at the conference, including, Mrs. Haifa F. Al Kaylani Founder & Chairman Arab International Women’s Forum , and Dr. Thuraya Al Arrayed Senior Executive Saudi Aramco. All speakers are regional leaders in their fields coming from diverse backgrounds and covering different expertise.
The WSIE aims to provide a knowledge sharing platform which will focus on six key initiatives: improving infrastructure, empowering human development, enabling sustainable development, making innovations foster better governance and legal reforms, sharing reports from leaders on stimulating growth ventures and ultimately exploring the impact of innovation trends on our future lives.
GLT – The Global Leadership Team is a strategic leadership consultancy organization with core competencies in planning, capacity development, alliance management, and market innovations.The organization has a documented track record delivering powerful solutions for a cross section of prestigious clients ranging from leadership capacity building to alliance management for global live events and productions, for a cross section of prestigious clients.
BACKGROUNDER - World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
(Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 1-3 April 2006)
General
The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship is the first-of-its kind forum, which aims to develop practical solutions to address the most important issues facing emerging nations and to inspire the development of the next Generation of entrepreneurs and innovators to fully celebrate the opportunities of the 21st century in a climate of global prosperity. The summit consists of inspiring themes that simultaneously address real issues facing entrepreneurs and innovators within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and across the world while providing opportunities for established leaders and entrepreneurs alike to spread prosperity for future generations and create a new and vibrant future.
Eight hundred of the World’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs - with a talent for changing the global economy - will come together for three days of workshops and roundtable discussions to help create a new future for the next generation of entrepreneurs. One of the key factors that influence innovative thinking and economic and social development is the geopolitical factor associated to its respective region. Geopolitical factors mainly include macro-environment, religious freedom, public security and intellectual property rights. The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship will shed light on these geopolitical factors with reference to the Arab world and regional geography.
In total, more than 85 confirmed high profile speakers from the MENA and across the globe will participate at the World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, including several preeminent thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and developers, including:
• H.E. Dr. Hassan Abdulla Fakhro, Minister of Industry & Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain
• H.E. Sharif Al Zu'bi, Minister of Industry & Trade, Jordan
• T.H. Peter Hansen, Former Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency
• H.E. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Ireland
• Dr. Jose Luis Machinea, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Dr. Bruce Jenks, Director UNDP Bureau for Resources and Strategic Partnerships, United Nations Development Programme
• Dr. Naomi Tutu, Founder, Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa
• Mr. Mohamad Saleh, Chairman, Al Aqariya TV
• Ms. Randa Ezz El Din Fouad, Secretary General, The Arab Media Forum for Environment and Development
• Dr. Iman Bibars, Regional Director, MENA, Ashoka
• Mr. Abdullah Atatreh, President, Bonyan Holding
The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship is the ultimate platform, which will make innovation work for emerging nations, helping them achieve global competitiveness through initiative and action.
The Summit program focuses on six key themes:
• Infrastructure & Competitiveness
• Knowledge & Development
• Energy & Sustainable Environment
• Geopolitics & Innovation Society
• Growth Strategies & Prosperity
• Disruptive Innovations & Value Creation
The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship is organised by Global Leadership Team (GLT), a strategic leadership consultancy organization with core competencies in planning, capacity development, alliance management, and market innovations.
GLT has a documented track record in delivering powerful solutions for a cross section of prestigious clients ranging from leadership capacity building to alliance management for global live events and productions.
GLT Centers of Leadership work in partnership with over twenty international governments and numerous private sector companies as well as non-profit organizations and publications. GLT international presence has included successful working relationships with organizations such as Microsoft, Hewlitt Packard, DOW, Trinity Health, MetLife, Cisco, Ford, General Motors, Proctor&Gamble, PepsiCo, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Bahrain, and Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan.
GLT along with global leaders who form a part of the advisory board for the World Summit of Innovation & Entrepreneurship have developed the agenda and topics for the summit. The advisory board members are as follows:
Mr. Michael White
Chairman & CEO
International Business Dr. Farouk El Baz
Director
Boston University Center
Dr. Deepak Chopra
Director of Educational Programs & Founder Chopra Center Mr. Rick Little
President
ImagineNations
Mr. Bruce Jenks Director of the UNDP Bureau for Resources & Strategic Development Mrs. Debra Amidon
Chairman & CEO
Entovation International Ltd.
T.H. Mervat Tellawy
Undersecretary
United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia Mr. Stephen DuMont
VP Managing Director
Cicso IBSG
T.H. Dr. Jose Luis Machinea
Executive Secretary
United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America Mr. Miko Rwayitare
President & Chairman
Telcel International
South Africa
Dr. Arun Ghandi
Chairman
M.K. Ghandi Institute Mrs. Haifa F. Al Kaylani
Founder & Chairman
Arab International Women’s Forum
Dr. Riane Eisler
President
Center for Partnership Studies
Dr. Thuraya Al Arrayed
Senior Executive
Saudi Aramco
Professor Sohail Inayatullah
Tamkang University & the University of the
Sunshine Coast
Mr. Kenneth Morse
Managing Director
MIT Entrepreneurship Center
Mrs. Maria Livanos Cattaui
Former Secretary General
International Chamber of Commerce
