Doha, Qatar, 25 November 2025
Tags : EAA

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.. 

I invite you to join us in celebrating Silatech and its accomplishments.

Esteemed guests, 

When I first read the World Bank’s 2007 Human Development Report, which warned that the Arab world would need to create 100 million jobs by 2020, I was deeply struck by the gravity of this finding. It lingered in my thoughts as I reflected on its profound implications. From that reflection a nascent idea started forming in mind—an idea that soon matured and took shape into the founding of Silatech in 2008.

We launched during the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Spain, and since then, together with our partners, have grown into a significant endeavor worthy of recognition.

In the first decade of this millennium, it became evident that the 15 to 29 age group, comprising nearly one-third of the Arab world’s population, represented signifFicant potential for development, while also posing economic and demographic challenges. I came to a realization that deepened my early commitment to youth development and empowerment. At that moment, I understood the magnitude of the challenge before us: integrating this large number of young people into the labor market and unlocking horizons for them worthy of the hope and energy they represent. 

What makes this challenge even more pressing is that 2020 passed without meeting the anticipated target of creating 100 million jobs for youth—or even the 51 million jobs required just to maintain existing unemployment levels, as highlighted in the 2009 Arab Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Programme.

In an attempt to contain the effect of such a reality, Silatech was launched as a proactive initiative anticipating transformations across the Arab region. 

During that period, Silatech faced major challenges that necessitated considerable efforts to establish effective partnerships with non-governmental organizations across numerous countries struggling with instability.

In 2019, we made a pledge to secure employment opportunities for five million young men and women by 2022. However, extraordinary circumstances arising from global and regional complexities prevented the full achievement of the goal within the set timeframe.

Today, I am proud to announce that Silatech has surpassed its contractual commitments, reaching over five million beneficiaries. This achievement was made possible by our unwavering belief in our mission, the tireless dedication of our partners, and the resilience of the communities we serve.

In light of this, I urge us not to limit our ambition to the milestone of five million beneficiaries. Let us renew the call for collective action to reduce unemployment rates, ultimately striving to bring them down to a level proportionate with the magnitude of the challenge. This is the very essence of investing meaningfully in our youth and future. Only then can we transform this group from an economic liability and burden into a demographic asset.

 

Peace be upon you.