The Arab Spring has revealed both the challenges and the opportunities of reform in the Middle East. Common across the region are the aspirations of young people for economic improvement; similarly common are the complexities of economic reform to create new enterprises and through them, new jobs. What are the lessons business and government have learned coming out of the recent financial crisis to meet this job creation challenge? What are the dimensions of this challenge in the GCC? And where should business and government focus their attention as they meet the rising demand for jobs in the public and private sectors?

This Financial Times / Oliver Wyman conference will bring together senior executives from financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation and infrastructure industries, as well as the public sector agencies and government departments that work closely with these industries.

Chaired and moderated by David Gardner, International Affairs Editor of the Financial Times, this half-day event will feature in-depth interviews and interactive panel discussions. Ongoing joint research on business confidence in the gulf by Oliver Wyman and Zogby International will provide essential context, and a format that encourages audience participation will ensure a lively interchange of ideas.

For general questions, or to apply to attend this event, please contact Bryan Ulrich at bryan.ulrich@ft.com.

There is no cost to attend this event.