A vote of confidence in Jordan’s role

The mere idea of holding the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the Dead Sea is a vote of confidence in the role of Jordan to promote harmony, better understanding and cooperation between the countries from these two geographic regions of the world.

There can be no better time to convene the forum than now, when the countries of the region are facing many new and old challenges, not only to their national security and stability, but also to their respective economies and the welfare of their people.

High officials from some 50 countries are taking part in the WEF, not to mention high-level UN officials and UN specialised agencies. Civil societies and NGOs from the participating countries and beyond will share their experiences and submit their ideas and proposals on how to deal with the major issues of the MENA region.

What at stake is the elaboration of a new cooperation and coordination order between these sets of countries, as well as putting the spotlight on some of their major industries, which cover a wide spectrum of concerns, including tourism.

The Dead Sea WEF is, therefore, a timely and pressing meeting that calls for a strong political will from the participants to make it a big success. The Dead Sea venue has become a mecca for similar meetings to complement the annual WEF in Davos that attracts world leaders from the four corners of the world.

The MENA region poses additional and distinct concerns that require a special conference. It is this in mind that the WEF in Jordan has attracted special attention and scrutiny.

The participating partners must not fail the people of the MENA region, because their stability is the cornerstone on which the stability of other regions of the world rest.