Bahrain will host the 18th Arab Businessmen and Investors Conference (ABIC) and the 3rd edition of the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2019 (WEIF 2019) in November, it was revealed today.
The events will be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa from November 11 to 13 with the slogan: “4th Industrial Revolution: Shaping the future - Digital disruptions for a better tomorrow”.
Organised and supported by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Union of Arab Chambers, Arab League, The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO ITPO Bahrain), the conference will lead the investment in the 4th Industrial Revolution and digital innovation in Arab countries, said a statement.
The main objectives of the conference will be to drive investment in entrepreneurship and innovation that will support the digital revolution in the Arab world. It will also highlight the opportunities and challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution to key stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
Emphasis will also be laid on understanding the need to move ahead and align with global developments and disruptive innovations which are driving major breakthroughs across many industries and sectors, it said.
Sonya Mohamed Abdulla Janahi, board member, BCCI, said: “Bahrain is a leading example of a business-friendly nation with no free zone restrictions, 100% foreign ownership for a majority of activities and low operating costs. As the first GCC nation to move away from its dependence on oil, Bahrain is today the region’s most diversified and sustainable economy and leading financial hub.”
She added: “The 4th Industrial Revolution has made paradigm changes in the way society and businesses have been functioning and is about more than just technology-driven incremental change. It is an opportunity to help varied stakeholders, including leaders, policy-makers and the general population from all income groups and nations, to harness converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centered future. The real opportunity is to look beyond technology and find ways to enable the greatest number of people to positively impact their families, organizations and communities.
“Aptly therefore, the focus of the 18th Arab Businessmen and Investors Conference is on the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on the Arab world and the BCCI is delighted to invite representatives from all over the region and the world to explore the possibilities, challenges and most efficient ways of adapting this revolution to obtain a dramatically improved future.”
Set to attract 1,500 participants from across the globe and a first of its kind forum in the region, representing a variety of expertise including key policy decision-makers, regulators, business investors, entrepreneurs, and global influencers.
Also, a key highlight of the ABIC 2019 is the Arab Entrepreneurship Rally, a competition designed to encourage and assist all Arab university students to convert their innovative business ideas into start-up enterprises. The competition will provide students with an opportunity to make a positive impact on society through technological innovation, whilst contributing to their own economic benefit.
The World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2019 (WEIF 2019) will be held under the theme: “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through Entrepreneurship & Innovation” but with special focus on “Investing in the 4th Industrial Revolution in a Digital Economy”.
WEIF 2019 will highlight and promote the role of impactful investment and innovation towards economic development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions will also focus on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of developing countries, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, in attaining these goals. – TradeArabia News Service