Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will inaugurate the 13th Jeddah Economic Forum titled “Housing and Population Growth” at Hilton Hotel on March 16, it was announced here yesterday.
“The three-day forum aims at finding innovative solutions for the housing problem, which has become one of the main challenges facing the Kingdom and other Gulf countries,” said one of the organizers.
Major speakers include Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb, Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Housing Minister Shuwaish Al-Dhuwaihi and Economy and Planning Minister Mohammed Al-Jasser.
Ministers from Turkey and Singapore will also address the forum in addition to experts from other countries such as Pakistan and Brazil. Saleh Kamel, chairman of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also speak at the event, said a JCCI official.
On the first day, the forum will focus on constructing new cities and economic performance of cities in the Gulf region. On the second day, speakers will discuss how to ensure construction of homes at a lower cost and the role of governments in providing cheaper housing facilities.
The forum will also discuss private sector’s role in development of cities and constructing homes. The first JEF was held in 2000 and focused on achieving stable economic growth. The last forum in 2012 discussed papers on building future economy.
