Youth Knowledge Forum kicks off in Egypt with participation of key experts and industry leaders - Middle East Business News and Information
Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports attended the opening of the Forum's fourth edition, held at Cairo University Theatre
The fourth edition of the Youth Knowledge Forum (YKF)، titled 'Knowledge Economy and Human Development,' commenced at the Cairo University Theatre, garnering wide participation both regionally and internationally. It is being organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Egypt's Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) through the Youth Knowledge Office, under the patronage of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports, along with several other ministers and senior officials, including Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture; and Counselor Mahmoud Fawzy, Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs.
The inaugural session was also graced by the presence of H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadek, President of Cairo University; and Eng. Hany Torky, Project Manager of the Knowledge Project at UNDP, as well as a distinguished group of partners and experts. Furthermore, attendees enjoyed a vibrant lineup of musical and artistic performances by the 'Percussion' troupe.
Dr. Ashraf Sobhy emphasized that as the host of the Forum's fourth edition, Egypt has demonstrated its strong commitment to investing in human capital and capacity building. Moreover, he stated that the knowledge economy is the backbone of the nation's ongoing development efforts.
He further stated: 'The forum serves as a dynamic platform for impactful dialogue and youth policymaking, redefining benchmarks of how government institutions should engage with youth in an era of digital and knowledge transformation. Through such initiatives, we strive to enhance the creativity, awareness, and leadership qualities of Arab youth, since empowering them today is fundamental to building a cohesive society and a sustainable, competitive economy.'
H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, expressed his delight at the Forum's return to Cairo, following the success of last year's edition. He further underscored that Arab youth empowerment remains a cornerstone of the Foundation's strategic vision.
Meanwhile, Eng. Hany Torky, Project Manager of UNDP's Knowledge Project, emphasized that the world's greatest challenge today is not a lack of professional opportunities, but a growing skill gap, which is hindering individuals' ability to keep pace with digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Following the opening, the first session titled 'Knowledge Economy and Human Development' was moderated by Mr. Mostafa Magdy, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports for Strategic Affairs and Information, and a member of the Technical Secretariat of the Ministerial Group for Human Development. The session explored the importance of formulating a comprehensive vision for the knowledge economy and examined the role of Egypt's development policies in supporting the same.
The event also featured a second session titled 'Formulating Development Policies in the Era of the Knowledge Economy,' which was moderated by Mr. Fathi Emad, Director of the Egyptian Knowledge Youth Office. The session facilitated discussions on enhancing public policies, in line with global shifts in knowledge and innovation.
The session witnessed the participation of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture; H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; and Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadek, President of Cairo University. Together, they outlined Egypt's future vision for strengthening the knowledge economy, emphasizing the need to invest in human capital while fostering robust collaboration between the government and other institutions to drive knowledge-based development.
On the first day, the Forum facilitated six specialized panel discussions addressing a variety of key topics, including strategies for advancing the knowledge economy in Egypt, the role of international institutions in fostering a knowledge-friendly environment, the transformation of education to meet the needs of the modern era, artificial intelligence as a key driver of development, and the impact of misinformation on the economy and society.
The sessions attracted wide participation from a group of leading executives and experts from prestigious organizations such as Microsoft, Uber, and Blocks 17, in addition to prominent academic and thought leaders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
an hour ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egyptian, Qatari FMs Discuss Gaza Ceasefire Efforts, Reconstruction Plans
Nada Mustafa A phone call took place on Sunday between Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. Tamim Khallaf, official spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the call addressed developments in the Gaza Strip and the joint Egyptian-Qatari efforts to reach a ceasefire and end the grave crimes and violations committed by Israel against Palestinian civilians, as well as to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Both ministers reaffirmed their full commitment to continuing negotiations and intensifying efforts to swiftly reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that would facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to the Strip and put an end to Israel's repeated violations. The call also touched on the preparations for the upcoming international conference hosted by Egypt on recovery and reconstruction, which aims to implement the Arab-Islamic plan for rebuilding Gaza. Moreover, both ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining joint coordination and continuing to rally international support for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language
See - Sada Elbalad
2 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Fairuz Participates in the Funeral of Her Son Ziad Rahbani
Amir Hagag The star Fairuz participated in the funeral of her son Ziad Rahbani at the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady in Bikfaya. His sister Rima appeared beside her. The funeral procession set off down Hamra Street amid applause from his fans and followers, who accompanied him on both sides, throwing flowers, and ululating. Thousands of fans and admirers of the late musician Ziad Rahbani gathered early in the morning in front of Khoury Hospital in the Hamra area of Lebanon to bid him farewell with flowers, hold up his picture, and applaud enthusiastically in front of the hospital. The prominent Lebanese musician and theater icon Ziad Rahbani passed away on Saturday at the age of 69, leaving behind a significant artistic legacy and a rich career in the Arab world. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
What to expect, and what not to, at the UN meeting on an Israel-Palestinian two-state solution - War on Gaza
The U.N. General Assembly is bringing high-level officials together this week to promote a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict that would place their peoples side by side, living in peace in independent nations. Israel and its close ally the United States are boycotting the two-day meeting, which starts Monday and will be co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia. Israel's right-wing government opposes a two-state solution, and the United States has called the meeting 'counterproductive' to its efforts to end the war in Gaza. France and Saudi Arabia want the meeting to put a spotlight on the two-state solution, which they view as the only viable road map to peace, and to start addressing the steps to get there. The meeting was postponed from late June and downgraded from a four-day meeting of world leaders amid surging tensions in the Middle East, including Israel's 12-day war against Iran and the war in Gaza. 'It was necessary to restart a political process, the two-state solution process, that is today threatened, more threatened than it has ever been," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Sunday on CBS News' 'Face the Nation." Here's what's useful to know about the upcoming gathering. Why a two-state solution? The idea of dividing the Holy Land goes back decades. When the British mandate over Palestine ended, the U.N. partition plan in 1947 envisioned dividing the territory into Jewish and Arab states. Israel accepted the plan, but upon Israel's declaration of independence the following year, its Arab neighbours declared war and the plan was never implemented. Under a 1949 armistice, Jordan held control over the West Bank and east Jerusalem and Egypt over Gaza. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek those lands for a future independent state alongside Israel, and this idea of a two-state solution based on Israel's pre-1967 boundaries has been the basis of peace talks dating back to the 1990s. The two-state solution has wide international support. The logic behind it is that the population of Israel — along with east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza — is divided equally between Jews and Palestinians. The establishment of an independent Palestine would leave Israel as a democratic country with a solid Jewish majority and grant the Palestinians their dream of self-determination. Why hold a conference now? France and Saudi Arabia have said they want to put a spotlight on the two-state solution as the only viable path to peace in the Middle East — and they want to see a road map with specific steps, first ending the war in Gaza. The co-chairs said in a document sent to U.N. members in May that the primary goal of the meeting is to identify actions by 'all relevant actors' to implement the two-state solution — and 'to urgently mobilize the necessary efforts and resources to achieve this aim, through concrete and time-bound commitments.' Saudi diplomat Manal Radwan, who led the country's delegation to the preparatory conference, said the meeting must 'chart a course for action, not reflection.' It must be 'anchored in a credible and irreversible political plan that addresses the root cause of the conflict and offers a real path to peace, dignity and mutual security,' she said. French President Emmanuel Macron has pushed for a broader movement toward a two-state solution in parallel with a recognition of Israel's right to defend itself. He announced late Thursday that France will recognize the state of Palestine officially at the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in late September. About 145 countries have recognized the state of Palestine. But Macron's announcement, ahead of Monday's meeting and amid increasing global anger over desperately hungry people in Gaza starting to die from starvation, makes France the most important Western power to do so. What is Israel's view? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the two-state solution on both nationalistic and security grounds. Netanyahu's religious and nationalist base views the West Bank as the biblical and historical homeland of the Jewish people, while Israeli Jews overwhelmingly consider Jerusalem their eternal capital. The city's eastern side is home to Judaism's holiest site, along with major Christian and Muslim holy places. Hard-line Israelis like Netanyahu believe the Palestinians don't want peace, citing the second Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s, and more recently the Hamas takeover of Gaza two years after Israel withdrew from the territory in 2005. The Hamas takeover led to five wars, including the current and ongoing 21-month conflict. At the same time, Israel also opposes a one-state solution in which Jews could lose their majority. Netanyahu's preference seems to be the status quo, where Israel maintains overall control and Israelis have fuller rights than Palestinians, Israel deepens its control by expanding settlements, and the Palestinian Authority has limited autonomy in pockets of the West Bank. Netanyahu condemned Macron's announcement of Palestinian recognition, saying it 'rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became." What is the Palestinian view? The Palestinians, who label the current arrangement 'apartheid,' accuse Israel of undermining repeated peace initiatives by deepening settlement construction in the West Bank and threatening annexation. That would harm the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state and their prospects for independence. Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the PLO Executive Committee and close associate of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the meeting will serve as preparation for a presidential summit expected in September. It will take place either in France or at the U.N. on the sidelines of the high-level meeting, U.N. diplomats said. Majdalani said the Palestinians have several goals, first a 'serious international political process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.' The Palestinians also want additional international recognition of their state by major countries including Britain. But expect that to happen in September, not at Monday's meeting, Majdalani said. And he said they want economic and financial support for the Palestinian Authority and international support for the reconstruction and recovery of the Gaza Strip. What will happen — and won't happen — at the meeting? All 193 U.N. member nations have been invited to attend the meeting and a French diplomat said about 40 ministers are expected. The United States and Israel are the only countries who are boycotting. The co-chairs have circulated an outcome document which could be adopted, and there could be some announcements of intentions to recognize a Palestinian state. But with Israel and the United States boycotting, there is no prospect of a breakthrough and the resumption of long-stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on an end to their conflict. Secretary-General António Guterres urged participants after the meeting was announced 'to keep the two-state solution alive.' And he said the international community must not only support a solution where independent states of Palestine and Israel live side-by-side in peace but 'materialize the conditions to make it happen.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
