Under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, the 18th Conference of Arab Businessmen and Investors was held in Manama from 11-13 November 2019, under the slogan «Investing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Digital Economy», organized by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Union of Arab Chambers, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and the Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation.

The conference was noticeable by the presence of His Highness Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the participation of a number of highnesses and ministers from the Kingdom of Bahrain, and ministers and senior Arab and international officials concerned with investment, and leaders of chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture in the Arab countries, the Arab foreign Joint Chambers, organizations, specialized Arab economic and financial institutions, development banks, Arab finance and development funds, investment promotion agencies in Arab countries, Arab businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs and senior international media, in addition to international and regional experts in the economic, financial and social fields.

The conference was inaugurated by the speech of Sameer Abdullah Nass, the Chairman of the BCCI, welcoming the participants and pointing out that the slogan «Investing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Digital Economy» is not but an expression of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision for Bahrain who stressed the importance of investing in the digital economy to enhance Bahrain's regional and global status.

Mr. Nass said that what we are witnessing today in this revolution is stronger than any previous revolutions and transformations, which will generate new economies, and set new rules for markets. He also called on the Bahraini and Arab private sector to rehabilitate its structure and take the lead of the non-traditional initiatives, as it has transit boats to accommodate this pivotal development.

He also stressed the importance of building on the existing successful experiences to overcome the new challenges as inequality is worsening and transforming the Arab countries from consumer to productive societies, which will create abundant new and creative opportunities for new generation entrepreneurs.

HE Mohammed Abdo Saeed, President of the Union of Arab Chambers, delivered a speech in the opening, thanking the organizing partners of the conference, praising the extraordinary efforts of BCCI, and congratulating the chamber on the 80th anniversary of its successful and promising march, hoping that the conference would represent a step towards enhancing the digital and knowledge economy in the Arab world.

 

Working Sessions

A number of international and Arab experts with leadership skills and significant influence on the sectors in which they work took part as speakers at the conference, and the main themes of the sessions were:

·        A smart future for all: innovation, principles, and diversity.

·        Dimensions of the global work environment and funding challenges.

·        Innovation driving business: adopting digital services and technologies in various businesses.

·        The insertion of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in corporate culture and operations.

·        Determining revenues through alternative investments and private asset classes.

·        Bahrain Entrepreneurship Model.

·        The Road to Digital Technological Transformation: Dialogue with Decision Makers.

Leadership and innovation in technology.