REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION OF SECRETARY GEITHNER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000392 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JHARRIS); PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY SECRETARY GEITHNER'S OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN BERNANKE'S OFFICE; ABU DHABI FOR MATT EPSTEIN; RIYADH FOR AMANDA EDWARDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KWBG PGOV PREL SOCI SA SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION OF SECRETARY GEITHNER AND CHAIRMAN BERNANKE IN 10TH JEDDAH ECONOMIC FORUM (JEF), FEBRUARY 13-16, 2010 REF: A. JEDDAH 0341 ¶B. SCARBOROUGH-EDWARDS EMAIL ¶1. (U) On October 13, Post received an expected (ref A) letter from Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Gulf Research Center (GRC) requesting Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's participation as panelists at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) February 13-16, 2010. Post is forwarding JEF letter, brochure/descriptive materials to NEA/ARP desk and to Treasury reps Epstein and Edwards via e-mail. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: October 4, 2009 Mr. Martin Quinn Consul General Embassy of the United States of America Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Dear Mr. Quinn, The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the Gulf Research Center (GRC) is pleased to announce that the 2010 Jeddah Economic Forum entitled "The Global Economy 2020" will take place from February 13 to 16, 2010, in Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Coming at an important time when there are first indicators that the world economy is gradually coming out of the current recessionary period, the 10th edition of the Jeddah Economic Forum will look beyond the current global economic crisis and focus on the shape and leading characteristics of the next phase of global growth. As the premier event in the Middle East, the JEF has in past brought together over 2,000 participants annually with 400 speakers representing over 30 nations including 15 heads of state. In this tradition, the 2010 Forum will serve once again as the ideal platform for decision-makers, experts, businessmen and academics to discuss the outlook for the world economy in the next ten years in the key sectors of banking and finance, energy and the environment, trade, agriculture, industry, education, health, and science and technology. Please find attached an event brochure highlighting the focus of the 2010 Forum. Please also note the following weblink: www.jef.org.sa; www.grcevent.net/jef With the United States playing a leading role in the current deliberations on the future global economic architecture, we would like to inquire about the possibility of the herebelow officials; H.E. Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, participating in this high profile event as a panelist in the session entitled "Global Economic Governance After the Crisis" which is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon. For further details on this panel, please refer to page 22 of the attached brochure. H.E. Ben Bernanke, Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank, participating in this high profile event as a panelist in the session entitled "The Way Forward for Reserve Currencies" which is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 13.30 p.m. to 15.30 p.m. For further details on this panel, please refer to page 23 of the attached brochure. Please note that we are in the process of putting the program together, and at this stage, I would simply be grateful if you check for me the availability of H.E. Timothy Geithner & H.E. Ben Bernanke, participating in the 2010 Jeddah Economic Forum for the dates mentioned above. Please also forward me the relevant contact person and details so that we can follow up directly if necessary. Thank you very much for your prompt attention and assistance JEDDAH 00000392 002 OF 002 in this matter. I look forward to hearing from you. With highest regards, Abdulaziz Sager Chairman Gulf Research Center END TEXT. ¶2. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests desk pass letter/brochure to offices of Secretary Geithner and Chairman Bernanke. Post understands that Treasury DepSec may have plans to be in the region this winter. Treasury reps in field will follow up with Secretary Geithner's office. QUINN