A two-member delegation represented Islamic Relief at the Jeddah Economic Forum 2004, in Saudi Arabia in January. Islamic Relief attended as part of a British delegation, invited by Women in Business UK.
The annual Forum was first organized in 1999 and has become the region's strategic think tank focusing on regional and international economic and social issues.
Speakers at the event included HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, HE Rafik Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon, HE Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Bill Clinton, former President of the USA.
Over 1400 people attended the Forum which proved to be an excellent opportunity for Heshmat Khalifa, Waqf & Middle East Manager and Khalid Almulad, Manager of the President’s office to network and raise the profile of Islamic Relief’s international humanitarian work.
HRH Princess Victoria Ingrid Crown Princess of Sweden was very pleased to learn that Islamic Relief have an office in Stockholm and was keen to know more about our work. The delegation also met HE Mr Rafiq Al-Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon, whom they had met a year ago at a reception at his residence during the Arab NGO Network.
Heshmat Khalifa also took the opportunity to speak to Bill Clinton about Islamic Relief’s well-established fundraising office in the US.
By raising awareness of Islamic Relief and building good relationships in the Middle East and worldwide it is hoped that more people will join us in our work to alleviate the suffering of the world's poorest people.