Our decision on organising a prestigious event, HRD Congress M.E.N.A. was based on model, tradition and experience of Asian HRD Congress -- in the Kingdom of Bahrain was a natural choice. Bahrain has a central geographic location to the Gulf States of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates and is physically connected by road to Saudi Arabia, the region's single largest consumer. It is also in close proximity to Europe and the North African countries.

Bahrain has a strong established base of leading international companies and financial institutions. The Kingdom has attracted global business because of its buoyant economic growth and positive, low risk political climate with an independent judicial system, commitment to highest international standards and best practices, a pro-business culture, world class infrastructure, and a friendly cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Set against this background, the HR Community in a large group of countries will certainly benefit from HRD Congress M.E.N.A.  (M.E.N.A. stands for Middle East and North Africa).

As mentioned above, the HRD Congress M.E.N.A. is an extension of the Asia HRD Congress™ (AHRDC) that has been organised annually for the last 8 years in and around Asia.  AHRDC was developed from the success of Trainer Meets Trainers® (TMT), which started in 1978 and still moving strong.  In all, the HRD Congress tradition goes back 31 years.

With the ever so encouraging response and support from participants and partners in the Middle East, HRD Congress M.E.N.A. was developed with the intention of organising a simple but significant gathering of HR Community, Human Capital Development professionals, people developers, HR managers, HR Consultants among others from across the region.  The focus at HRD Congress M.E.N.A 2009 is to help delegates learn, share, shape and network the future of Human Capital Development in the Middle East and North Africa through the participation and contribution of regional and global experts. In this, we are guided by our mission: Global Vision, Regional Insights.

The HR Congress for M.E.N.A. will focus on the current trends and best practices in HR where distinguished speakers, trainers and professionals from Australia, Bahrain, Germany, Malaysia, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E and U.S.A will be sharing ideas and experiences.

The theme focuses on an extremely important reality in a world that is changing in an unpredecedented way :
Responding to the Crisis, Preparing for the Upturn: The Next Generation Human Capital Development.

Join us on November 15 and 16, 2009 to find answers that will help you navigate the rest of 2009 and plan 2010 successfully.  Meet immediate challenges and prepare for the upswing beyond 2009.  Know the HR community in the region. Join the Human Capital Development professionals in recognising and applauding extraordinary contributors from the HR community in the region who have touched the lives of people and nations.

We look forward to welcoming you at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain!

With best wishes,
The HRD Congress M.E.N.A. 2009 Organising Team