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Regional Industry Cluster Associations at the Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy

The Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy, a non-government organization established by Dr. Yagil Weinberg and Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School, plans to introduce a revolutionary concept to the Middle East: Regional Industry Cluster Associations (RICA). The RICA are a dynamic new mechanism created for  industrialists, investors, and government officials from across the Middle East to discuss and implement recommendations for upgrading competitive strategies of regional industries. The establishment of Regional Industry Cluster Associations (RICA)reflects a new industry-oriented approach to the work of the Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy. RICA are a unique forum for involving businessmen, academics, government officials, and professionally trained competitiveness experts in an ongoing process of upgrading regional industrial competitiveness.

RICAs combine the traditional notion of an industry association with the expertise of a consulting firm and go beyond to create a new participatory mechanism for key decision makers to design competitive strategies for their industries. The RICA process begins with a fundamental analysis of potential competitive advantage in an industry cluster viewed on a functional, not a national basis, reaching across the Middle East. This analysis is the foundation upon which the RICA members build an action plan for strengthening the competitiveness of the regional industry. The RICA seek to institutionalize a new dialogue for businessmen and government officials from several countries to find practical solutions to common problems and create a shared vision for action. They provide the opportunity to shape the public debate surrounding industries in an open, broad-based forum. By involving a wide range of private and public sector decision makers at all stages of its work, in a consensus approach to solving challenges together, RICA is a mechanism for turning recommendations into reality.

Background on the Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy

The Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy aims to con-tribute to a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Middle East region by  strengthening industrial competitive-ness, encouraging regional economic cooperation and working to increase mutual understanding across national borders. It is estimated that in the two years since its establishment the Center has reached out to approximately 10,000 people across the region through a variety of mechanisms including: educational seminars; national conferences; courses for MBA candidates; meetings of industry working groups; and articles in the national and international press.

Last modified: 08/01/06