Ammon News - DEAD SEA, Jordan – Education and the creation of employment opportunities are fundamental for fulfilling the ambitions of young people in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Outlook on the Global Agenda 2013, released today in Arabic at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.

“Youth under 25 years old represent a majority of the population in the Arab World and have high aspirations for the future. Fulfilling these aspirations, by providing high-quality education, fostering sustainable and increased economic growth, and creating employment opportunities, should be top priorities for the governments of the region,” stressed Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates and Co-Chair of the Summit on the Global Agenda 2012, which was hosted in Dubai.

The findings of the report will be discussed at the Forum’s regional event in Jordan and further debated at the Summit on the Global Agenda 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 18-20 November. The Summit convenes the most relevant experts from academia, government, business and civil society to challenge conventional thinking and tackle global challenges.

The Outlook on the Global Agenda 2013 contains insights on globalization, geopolitics, hyperconnectivity, post-2015 development issues and leadership values.

“It is particularly interesting that this report highlights two of the major issues we face in the Arab world: leadership and moral values. The recent uprisings in Arab countries were a direct challenge to leaderships which could no longer be trusted and were failing to respond to the needs of their people,” added Mustapha Kamel Nabli, Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia (2011-2012) and Chair of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Arab World.