Day One Highlights – Saturday, April 12, 2025
Forging Regional Futures: Strategic Dialogue from Derna to Toronto
Day One Highlights – Saturday, April 12, 2025
The Future of the Middle East and the Gulf States – Vision 2030 Organized by:
University of Derna, Libya & Canadian Institute for Middle East and Gulf Studies (CIMEGS)
Hybrid Format: Derna & Toronto
📸 Forum Highlights – Photo Gallery
🔹 Opening Session: Shared Commitments, Global Perspectives
The international forum officially opened with a series of high-level addresses that set the tone for an ambitious and visionary dialogue.
Prof. Dr. Wael Mohammed Gabrel, Chair of the Academic Affairs and Community Service Committee at the University of Derna, welcomed participants and emphasized the forum’s role in fostering academic cooperation across borders.
Following this, Prof. Dr. Jehad Algharam, Director of the Canadian Institute for Middle East and Gulf Studies (CIMEGS) and General Coordinator of the forum, highlighted the Institute’s mission to support interdisciplinary research and build bridges between Canadian and Arab academic institutions.
The session concluded with the official inauguration of the forum by Prof. Dr. Nasr Ayad El-Mansori, President of the University of Derna and Honorary President of the conference. In his remarks, he underlined the forum’s strategic relevance as a platform for collaborative thinking and sustainable regional development.
🔹 Scientific Session I – Strategic Visions for Transformation
The first scientific session brought together scholars and practitioners from various countries to reflect on the transformative pathways shaping the Middle East and Gulf regions, particularly in light of Vision 2030 agendas.
A key moment of the session was the intervention of H.E. Dr. Issa Ali Tuwegiar, former Minister of Planning of Libya, who delivered a powerful address on the necessity of integrated international planning. Dr. Tuwegiar emphasized the importance of aligning national development visions with global realities, particularly through investment in education, innovation, and data-driven governance. Drawing from his ministerial experience, he offered a roadmap for resilience in Arab economies facing rapid technological and demographic shifts.
The session also featured a range of scholarly contributions that explored pressing topics such as:
- Financial inclusion and fintech innovation in the Gulf (Prof. Dr. Tarek SADRAOUI)
- Digital transformation for sustainable development (Prof. Dr. Asmaa Youssef)
- Artificial intelligence in the financial sector (Dr. Saoudi Saleh Al-Din & Lt. Zeynan Bilal)
- Governance of IT systems and public sector efficiency (Prof. Dr. Moqaddam Wahiba)
- E-commerce and digital economic models (Dr. Kebaili hadja & Dr. Atig Aicha)
- Digital medicine: necessity or luxury? (Dr. Zergui Amina)
- Cybersecurity in the age of AI (Prof. Dr. Khatib Zoulikha & Dr. LARID Hasni)
- Big data and AI to achieve Vision 2030 (Dr. Faisal Farhi & Dr. Mouna Farhi)
🔹 Strategic Coordination and Leadership
A distinctive element of the forum’s success was the vital role played by Prof. Dr. Laadjal Adala, General Coordinator of the Scientific Program and a key figure linking all parties involved in the forum’s organization. From the opening session through the detailed academic panels, Dr. Adala ensured seamless communication, intellectual coherence, and operational alignment across the diverse components of the event. His leadership, diplomacy, and academic presence positioned him as the central pillar connecting participants, institutions, and ideas. The session concluded with a dynamic exchange of ideas between panelists and participants. Among the most insightful moments were the interventions of Prof. Dr. Wael Mohammed Gabrel who, through a series of well-articulated questions, stimulated deeper reflection on the practical implications of the presented research. His remarks bridged theoretical insights with institutional challenges, encouraging speakers to elaborate on implementation strategies, governance frameworks, and the role of academic institutions in driving regional transformation.
🔹 Session Leadership
Chair: Dr. Nashaat Edward Nashed (Egypt)
Rapporteur: Dr. Wafa Issa (Tunisia)
Prepared in Toronto, Canada
April 12, 2025
Issued by:
Canadian Institute for Middle East and Gulf Studies (CIMEGS)