Wateen Represents Pakistan at Horasis

Online, October 13, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Wateen Telecom, Pakistan's leading converged communications provider, was recently invited as the only Pakistani company to participate as a co-chair in the prestigious Horasis Global Arab Meeting, held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, from 9th-12th October 2011.

The Horasis Global Arab Meeting takes place annually and aims at creating an opportunity for global leaders to meet, engage in business and discuss visions for a sustainable future. In addition to keynote speeches by industry luminaries, the meeting offers panel-style boardroom dialogue sessions led by the event co-chairs, reflecting on specific opportunities and challenges in the global economic sphere. This year's event was attended by over 300 participants from 35 countries.

Wateen Telecom holds the honour of being the only Pakistani company invited to participate in this globally recognised platform for international dialogue. Wateen CEO Naeem Zamindar was selected as a co-chair for the event; other participants from Pakistan included Minister for Social Affairs Farzana Raja, and Mr Moazzam Hussain from the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade. As an event co-chair, Mr Zamindar participated in one of the event's main Plenary sessions, as well as one of the boardroom dialogue sessions.

The Plenary session discussed the prospects of newly evolving political and economic alliances between the Arab world and other nations in the background of a waning Arab spring. Mr Zamindar commented on the important role played by the Arab world in regional development, highlighting the significant investments made by Middle Eastern stakeholders in Pakistan specifically. He also spoke of the relatively young populations of the Middle East and South Asia and how this youth can play an important role in progressing the region into the 21st Century. Other on the panel included Sulaiman Al-Assaf, chief executive officer of the Middle East Investment Company, Sheikh Saif bin Hashil Al-Maskery, chairman of Al Mahfadha Investments and a former senior Omani diplomat, and Samir Brikho, chief executive officer, Amec UK.

The second panel session examined the role of technology as an incubator of social change; in addition to Mr Zamindar, the panel included Ahmad Birjawi, chief executive officer of Precise Telecom Services, Ziad Makhzoumi, chief financial officer of Arabtec - the company behind the development of Burj Khaleefa, the world's tallest building), Frans Otten, great-grandson of the founder of Phillips and chairman of Tendris Holding, a manufacturer of LED lighting solutions. In this panel, Mr Zamindar highlighted the importance of creating enabling environments to ensure that innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged in youth. He said that in itself technology was merely a tool to enable progress; it was how that tool is utilised that determines success.

Later, commenting on the Horasis Global Arab Meeting, Mr Zamindar said, "It was a great honour for me to represent Wateen - and Pakistan - at this incredible event. Not only was it a chance to interact with global leaders, it presented an opportunity to demonstrate Pakistan's crucial role in the global technology and telecommunications stage. I hope that our participation this year will help define Pakistan's socio-economic relationship - one of partnership and cooperation - with the Arab world, as well as the world at large."

Horasis meetings are usually held outside the respective geographic location of the 'in-focus' nation - in a host country. The events are a means for the countries 'in focus' as guests (China, Russia, India, and the Arab world) to promote benign relations with the world and to display soft power through co-option and cooperation. The meetings are also a platform for the respective host country to engage in a policy dialogue with the guest countries. Horasis itself is not an executive agency nor related to any government - it is neutral and impartial. However, when Horasis participants reach a consensus about what they think is to be done, they have at their disposal a powerful platform for bringing about what it is they want to see to happen.

Other co-chairs for the 2011 Horasis Global Arab Meeting included:

• Sanjiv Ahuja, Chairman, LightSquared, USA
• Sulaiman Al-Assaf, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East Investment
• Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Chief Executive Officer, Jadwa Investment, Saudi Arabia
• Sheikh Saif bin Hashil Al-Maskery, Chairman, Al Mahfadha Investments, Oman
• Tariq H. Cheema, Chief Executive Officer, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, USA
• Mohamed Elmandjra, Chief Executive Officer, Meditel, Morocco
• Barbara Thomas Judge, Chairman Emeritus, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, UK
• Rajive Kaul, Chairman, Nicco Group, India
• Steve Killelea, Chairman, Integrated Research, Australia
• Anil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Ransat Group, United Kingdom
• Juan Maria Nin, Chief Executive Officer, La Caixa, Spain
• Mohammad Hassan Omran, Chairman, Etisalat, UAE
• Frans Otten, Chairman, Tendris Holding, The Netherlands
• Jacques Sarraf, Chairman, Malia Holding, Lebanon
• Gita Wirjawan, Chairman, Investment Coordinating Board, Indonesia

In addition to Ms Raja from Pakistan, the event was also attended by leading international public figures such as H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE; H.E. Mohammad Abu-Hammour, Minister of Finance of Jordan, Jordan; H.E. Nicolas Nahas, Minister of Economy & Trade, Lebanon; and H.E. Kamal Nath, Union Cabinet Minister of Urban Development, India.