17 January 2015
Culture Role is Discussed in Paris Conference on the “Renewal of the Arab World”
Saudi businessman representing Global General Holding Corp, Mazen Al- Sawwaf highlighted the importance of the Arab World Institute’s international forum on Thinkers and Doers of the Arab World, entitled “The Renewal of the Arab World“. The international investment company is the official sponsor and supporter of this conference as it believes in the role of culture as a development factor for people and the economy. In his televised French and world media speech, Mr. Al-Sawwaf argued that investment in culture is more important that investing in real estate.
The two-day conference, held under the patronage of French President Francois Hollande, aimed to offer a positive vision of the Arab world. Top leaders, decision-makers and emerging personalities working on the Arab region met on 15th January at the launch of the international forum on Thinkers and Doers of the Arab World, at the Arab World Institute, in Paris. Inaugurated with a speech by French President Francois Hollande, the two-day conference aims to offer a hopeful vision of the Arab world in a critical moment when discourses on the region are stained by the atrocities committed by extremist organizations.
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairperson of Shaikh Ibrahim Centre for Culture and Research Board of Trustees said that there is a place for the private sector on the map of the Arab culture. H.E continued saying, “Both private and public sector go hand in hand to raise the awareness of societies, build bridges of communication and openness, spread values of peace and love.” H.E Shaikha Mai also said that “culture is the best spaces of liberty where creativity knows no limits. Culture is the real impetus for beauty as a universal human value for the development of civilizations and our promised land, a stairway to heaven.” H.E continued saying, “Creativity is deeply rooted in our civilizations and human history; cultural events are but a continuation of our cultural identity and tomorrow’s civilization-making. This is the objective of Shaikh Ibrahim Center for Culture & Research, which is centered in the historical town of Muharraq and has enlightened many surrounding cities like Manama and other villages of the Kingdom of Bahrain reaching out to the ends of the world.”
Entitled “The Renewal of the Arab World”, the forum focused on entrepreneurship, renewable energy, women’s empowerment, and the emergence of creativity in the art market, areas which are thriving with change- makers leading a cultural and social reinvention of the region.
“It is more important than ever to get to the heart of the issue now. We want to look beyond the oft-dramatic incidents found in the day’s news to study the essential realities of societies undergoing transformation. We want to hear from those whose voices are muffled by the sound and fury of current events, the voices of those creators, thinkers, stakeholders and committed citizens who work in the various fields of human activity,” said the President of the Arab World Institute Jack Lang.
Participants from 21 countries included Hollande, the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, UAE Culture, Youth and Community Development Minister Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Board of Trustees of the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research chairwoman Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and Bahrain Development Bank Deputy General Manager Shaikh Hesham bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. Shaikha Mai affirmed the crucial role played by Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research in promoting the values of co-existence and respect among cultures and civilizations.
