<The Makkah Economic Forum in its first session attracted more than 7500 business leaders and those interested in economic affairs. The two-day forum included 12 main sessions and 8 side sessions in which 8 ministers from within the Kingdom and 60 of the most prominent local, regional and international speakers and experts and influential figures participated to attract more foreign direct investments to raise local output, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel under the slogan “From Vision to Achievement ...”. Invest in Makkah.“

Workshops throughout the year

<The activities and programs of the forum were launched under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah, with the aim of coming up with recommendations that contribute to raising the level of participation of the private sector, where His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Emir of the region and Chairman of the Supreme Supervisory Committee of the forum launched the workshops of the forum that continue throughout the year with the aim of promoting the participation of the private sector as a key partner in development programs in the Makkah region and achieving sustainable economic development in line with the objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030, and the Deputy Emir took the initiative in this

Exploiting Makkah's geographical location

<The forum sessions focused on the most important investment and economic opportunities for the region and the importance of achieving development and developing the performance of sectors, investing in the industrial sector, diversifying the sources of attraction, supporting the partnership between the public and private sectors and following up the procedures in this aspect to achieve leadership for the region in line with the Kingdom's vision 2030, reviewing investment opportunities and launching incentives for investors by taking advantage of a number of factors enjoyed by the Mecca region, including the geographical location and commercial activities through the ports spread on its coasts in addition to the tourist attractions that abound in a number of cities and governorates of the region, including the Makkah Makkah.

Investment Opportunities Platform

The Deputy Emir of Makkah witnessed the initiative of the ”Investment Opportunities Platform“, which is the first electronic platform at the level of the Kingdom that includes all government sectors in the region and aims to enhance the role of the private sector and engage it in creating sustainable economic development as an added value to the national economy. The platform will also contribute to raising the level of participation and contribution of the private sector and attracting more foreign direct investments to increase GDP, in addition to raising the level of services provided, thus creating an environment that contributes to attract investments and overcome any obstacles facing them.

Enhancing the contribution of small enterprises to development

The sessions were attended by 60 prominent local, regional and international speakers and experts to come up with recommendations that contribute to raising the level of private sector participation and attracting more foreign direct investment to raise local output, in light of the forum's endeavor to enhance the contribution of small and medium enterprises to economic development and review the investment opportunities and components owned by the Makkah region, especially as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aspires to continue the process of development and transformation into a leading investment power and increase the contribution of the private sector to GDP from to in line with Vision 2030.

Report of the Forum