We have always been interviewing and talking to local nationals and expats who managed to create a success story in different fields like art, fashion, and even business. What’s Up believes that we have here, in Saudi Arabia, all the ingredients we need to create the type of achievements we hear about all around the world. I was personally fortunate enough to have seen a star shining one after the other since I started to work with What’s Up.

We attended a press conference held by His Royal Highness Prince Mishal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah, and the chairman of ‘Society of Majid Bin Abdul Aziz for Development and Social Services’ and His Excellence Dr. Yousuf Al Othaimain Minister of Social Affairs who have both announced the organization of the ‘Social Development Forum’ under the slogan “From Sponsorship to Sustainability” with as its patron His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Governor of Makkah.

What is really exciting about this forum is that it’s the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, making it a milestone on the social development level of the country. The forum will host local and global personnel with long expertise in developing neighboring Arab countries as well as international ones, where they will discuss their practical experience in the field.

HRH Prince Mishal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz expressed the pride we share as Saudis to hold such a new approach to society, directed and complying to the Custodian of the two holy mosques’ vision to adopt scientific institutional systems in achieving total official and public growth activities.

One of the main targets that this forum will achieve is shedding light on new opportunities for multiple partnerships in various trends by brainstorming new ideas and concepts developed by experts for the local market. This will help our society on social development and support, and come up with recommendations to give effect to continuous development.

Dr. Yousuf Al Othaimain Minister of Social Affairs, confirmed that the forum aims to achieve several objectives, notably defining the development and social work, enhancing the performance and capabilities of the non-profit associations, and presenting methods of communication between them and the institutions of civil society.

The forum deals with a number of key workshops including redefining partnerships, how to monitor performance, how to attain sustainable development, and how to achieve high quality and performance standards. The forum will also present some of the local success stories and how to learn and make use of their practical knowledge in your own business.

When What’s Up asked His Royal Highness about whether this is a step directed towards a younger audience to display local business role models, Prince Mishal replied that, ‘This is a first step, and that objective will be reached through spreading this awareness, and that we have what it takes as a nation to be proud of what Saudis have achieved so far. We don’t need to import everything, one of the main objectives is to show every Saudi that we have great local case studies that would fill volumes; all we need to do is get them under the spotlight.’

The Forum will be held from the 6th to the 8th of June 2009 and you can find all the information you need by visiting the forum’s main webpage.

Link: www.SDF.org.sa