Aiman Saif in Baltimore: The Arab Minority as Israel's Next ...

Oct 3 2013 9:00am - 11:00am - The Task Force Foundation Forum, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds and Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation will host an event on Arab Citizens as Israel's Next Growth Engine: Government and Philanthropic Investment in Employment and Economic Development with Aiman Saif, General Director Authority for Economic Development of the Arab, Druze and Circassian Sectors in the Prime Minister Office In recent years, the government of Israel has been making unprecedented investments to enhance economic development for the Arab minority (20.6% of Israel's citizens) and harness its potential to become Israel's next engine for growth. Addressing low labor participation rates, closing socio-economic gaps and raising the standard of living in Arab communities are viewed today as key to strengthening the economy as a whole. Israeli government figures show that under-participation of Arab citizens in the economy results in estimated losses of NIS 31 Billion to the GDP each year. In response, a number of government bodies have been created recently, representing a total government investment of approximately NIS 4.5 Billion over the next 4-5 years for economic development programs for Israel's Arab citizens. Mr. Saif will provide the most current updates on the government's investments and approach to these issues, the latest assessments of recent progress and challenges ahead, and discuss existing programs as well as future government plans in this area. He will also reflect on the importance of civil society organizations and philanthropy in advancing these issues and addressing areas that are beyond the government's scope. For more information please contact Rafi Rone at 410-727-3200 ext 20 or Raf[email protected] Speaker Bio Aiman Saif (http://pr.ak.vresp.com/6ee87e49e/iataskforce.org/edu_au/Invitations/aiman-saif.jpg?__nocache__=1) Saif is the General Director of the Authority for the Economic Development of the Mino rities Sectors in the Prime Minister's Office, and has served as senior economic consultant at the Prime Minister's Office since 1996. Prior to that, he served as economic consultant at the Ministry of Economy and Planning. Mr. Saif was responsible for several fields including global and regional economy, economy of the Israeli Arab sector, municipal issues, infrastructure and investments. Some of the major initiatives that were coordinated by Mr. Saif were private equity funds; plans for the employment of Arab women; and joint ventures to advance the employment of Arab academics. Mr. Saif issued several publications including The Economic Development of the Non Jewish Sector in Israel (1995) and Middle East Economy - Israeli Master Plan 2020. Mr. Saif earned an MA in International Economic Development at Clark University, and an MBA and BA in Economics at the Otto Friedrich Universitaet Bamberg in West Germany.