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The Arab Economic Forum (AEF) is a non-profit institute established in 2012 that implements projects that aim to lead to a substantial change in the economic and social status of Arab society in Israel and accompanies those projects with evaluation and socio-economic policy research of Arab society in Israel.
The Forum is directed by a Board of Trustees composed of academics and well-known Jewish and Arab public figures from Israel and from abroad which sets the policy of the Center, approves its programs and its budget, and supervises the implementation of programs. The AEF has no party or sectarian affiliation.
The Forum envisions a future characterized by equality of opportunity and economic prosperity for Arab citizens of Israel. Such a fundamental change necessitates action at the level of the Israeli government, local authorities, businesses, and individual households. Guided by rigorous research and analysis, the AEF seeks to supply each of these stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to advance socio-economic equality. Accordingly, in addition to producing original, evidence-based research on the socio-economic conditions in the Arab community, the AEF issues and promotes policy recommendations for local and national state actors; provides consultations, trainings, and networking opportunities to support Arab local authorities and businesses; and coordinates workshops to equip individuals—particularly women and youth—with skills in financial management and entrepreneurship.
In order to advance the socioeconomic standing of the Arab community, the AEF seeks to strengthen Arab businesses and entrepreneurs. To this end, the AEF established the Arab Businessmen and Women Club in 2017 with the aim of fostering engagement and cooperation between Arab businesspeople from various industries. The Arab Business Club aims to promote the following goals:
The Forum seeks to achieve these goals through close cooperation with experts and specialists in economic and social affairs and similar academic and research institutions at the local and international levels. The forum attaches great importance to building a scientific and practical partnership with various parties, so that the forum serves as a hothouse for distinguished scientific studies, joint construction of alternative strategic planning, and a hothouse for Arab businessmen and women.
The Arab Economic Forum is an independent, non-profit association for scientific and applied research specializing in socio-economic issues and policies in the Palestinian Arab community in Israel. The importance and distinction of this center lies in its specialization in studying economic and social issues and their repercussions on the Palestinian Arab society, as well as in its ability to support the work strategies of decision makers that would contribute to facing the economic and social dilemmas and challenges faced by the Palestinian Arab community in Israel recently.