25 Countries Send Best and Brightest to Morocco for Two-day Event

Newswise — Arlington, VA – More than 200 investors, business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovation experts are scheduled to attend the June 16-17, “Economic Development through Science and Technology Innovation” conference in Rabat, Morocco.

Hosted by the Royal Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative—an outgrowth of President Obama’s “New Beginning” with Muslim-majority nations—the conference begins the implementation of solutions to economic development challenges.

On topics ranging from “Creating an Innovation Environment” to “Enabling High Impact Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa,” the event features speakers and participants from notable organizations and agencies representing the U.S. and 25 nations across the Middle East, North Africa and South and Central Asia. Notable speakers include:

- Dr. Abdelali Haoudi, Vice President for Research, Qatar Foundation- Dr. Ossama Hassanein, Senior Managing Director, Newbury Ventures- Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State- Mr. Nasser Kettani, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Middle East North Africa- Dr. Carl Shramm, President, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

GIST is supported by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by CRDF Global. More information about the conference, as well as a complete list of speakers, is available at www.gistinitiative.org. Follow GIST on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GISTinitiative and Twitter @GISTInitiative.

About CRDF GlobalCRDF Global is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 1995 to promote international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources and training. CRDF Global has 16 years of experience managing international research funding programs and supporting emerging science and technology infrastructure in more than 30 countries in Eurasia, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.