WELCOME. . .

In its second year, the Corporate Governance and Responsibility Forum (CGR Forum), organized by Schema, is truly an event not to be missed! Since the conclusion of the Forum in 2007, the number of companies that effectively implemented and gained value from best corporate governance and responsibility practices substantially increased. It is with this tangible success we continue to develop and improve in our region.

Times are difficult.. The financial crisis is not to be ignored, but nor is the significance of corporate governance and responsibility practices which can have a critically important affect on a company, sector, region, nation or an entire economy.

We believe this is a decisive and crucial time to encourage and support the advancement of discussions, debates and engagement levels of corporate governance and responsibility in the MENA region.

This year we will continue to build on outcomes and successes from 2007 by hosting the second Forum at the Dead Sea, Jordan in November of 2009. We welcome past participants and new entrants to engage with us as we all prepare for the challenges to come. We are anxious to include dynamic businesses to take a proactive role with us as we lead the CGR Forum 2009.

The CGR Forum 2009 will be highly interactive and be a launching point for several key tools, identified by the private sector, as important in advancing our collective goals.

The purpose of the Forum is to actively participate in shaping our region. It provides the opportunity to lead in the areas of corporate governance and responsibility. It is only with your participation that we can continue to build our region and initiatives successfully. We look forward to hosting you at this year's Forum. If you require additional assistance or would like to provide valuable feedback, we are here to support you.

Yours sincerely,



Maali Qasem
Maali Qasem  
Chairwoman of CGR Forum
Head of Schema