World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia
Istanbul, 22-24 October 2008

The World Economic Forum is returning to Istanbul, Turkey, for its first Europe and Central Asia Summit. Turkey, in its recent elections having reaffirmed its path towards the stability, democratisation and economic liberalism, and serving as a stable connector and smooth absorber of the competing influences of such major powers as the EU, US and Russia, is a logical choice for holding this meeting.

Hosted by the Government of Turkey the meeting will bring together the local and international business community and the top representatives from the Governments from the neighbouring region, as well as the EU, Russia, CIS and the Middle East, as well as a multitude of actors from the academic, culture,  religious and media fields to assess the ways of exploiting the potential of the region to its fullest.

It will provide an opportunity to discover in-depth business opportunities in the region stretching across the two continents and the geopolitical dynamics between the major players largely conducted by their energy security concerns. The meeting will assess the spread of security, stability, prosperity and interreligious dialogue in the region and the crucial role Turkey as a moderate secular Islamic state will play during the coming years.