Jazan Economic Forum (JEF) taking place from February 25 – 26 in Jazan City will offer delegates two full days of comprehensive information on the Jazan Economic City (JEC) project with presentations by subject matter experts. The speakers will provide delegates strategic insights on the JEC project and the vast investment opportunities to be seized, paving way for the development of a region with a high potential for economic growth. The Forum will begin with overarching statements by H.E. Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources; HE Abdullatif A. Al-Othman, Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA); and Khalid Al Falih, President & CEO of Saudi Aramco. This would be followed by a keynote address by HRH Prince Muhammad bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Amir of Jazan Province,. Over the two days, several panel sessions have been lined up, covering key discussion elements of the JEC project. These include presentations on Jazan Investment Incentives, the Jazan Economic City Vision, Strategy, and Value Proposition, Pioneer Investors, Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships, and Investing in Skills: Powering High Industries and Value Jobs. One of the keynote speakers is HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, President & Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, who will deliver a presentation entitled “Quality of Life : The Ultimate Goal.” Prince Salman will discuss how the Jazan Region could quantum leap into a dynamic tourism hotspot, fueled by the development of the JEC project. Known as the Pearl of the South, Jazan Province features high mountains with perennial green cover which include spectacular waterfalls, lakes and pristine beaches in the outlying islands nearby. The Forum will also see youth participation with a total of 160 volunteers from Jazan University involved in various capacities to ensure smooth operations of the two-day event. This represents one of the forum’s aspirations itself which is to see the involvement of as many local Jazan people as possible in driving the event. In conjunction with the JEF, Saudi Aramco’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture is hosting a set of public programs for the community of Jazan. The King Abdulaziz Center’s iThra Lab will offer children and youth of all ages the opportunity to design, program and fabricate their own creations from February 22 – 26 at the Al Rashid Mall. On February 28, the community is invited to the iThra Youth Forum to explore the creative side of science, engineering, arts and culture through experimentation and hands-on activity. Covering an area of 106 km2, the Jazan Economic City occupies a strategic coastal location approximately 70 km from Jazan City in a region known for its abundant natural resources. The project represents a multibillion-dollar investment by the Government of Saudi Arabia to fast-track the growth of Jazan, a region that is well positioned as a strategic gateway to the Kingdom. The first phase of the JEC project includes the 400,000 bpd Jazan Refinery, a 2,400 MW power generation plant and a sea port.