His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday received the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, and his wife, Hilde Schwab, to discuss Jordan’s cooperation and partnership with the WEF.

King Abdullah underlined the importance of discussions at the Forum, hosted by Jordan this year for the ninth time at the Dead Sea. This year’s WEF on the Middle East and North Africa is being held under the theme “Enabling a Generational Transformation”.

The sessions are focusing on youth empowerment, innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, and means to create jobs for young people.

The meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, also touched on preparations to host the Forum, which will be held with the participation of over 1,100 leading figures from the public and private sectors and civil society organisations from more than 50 countries.

The two sides highlighted the importance of holding the WEF in Jordan, especially amidst regional challenges and crises.

Professor Schwab said that by hosting the Forum, Jordan reaffirms its commitment to achieving progress and prosperity in the region and for its people.

Holding such a major meeting in the Kingdom also signals the appreciation for Jordan at the regional and international levels, he added, voicing pride in the WEF’s partnership with Jordan, citing its strategic location, economic advantages, and pivotal role in the region.

The Forum’s sessions this year, featuring a group of Jordanian innovators, will focus on topics such as enabling innovation and entrepreneurship through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, building inclusive economies, and supporting humanitarian efforts and diplomatic dialogue.

Also this year, the WEF has partnered with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to shed light on the region’s top 100 start-ups, which include 21 Jordanian start-ups.