The optimist

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Ahtisaari, a former president of Finland, is optimistic about the Middle East peace process following the emergence of President Barack Obama and the new US administration.

"I got an honorary doctorate from University College London last year, and I was introduced to the audience over dinner, and the representative of the university introduced me as the ‘David Beckham of diplomacy'," he laughs. "I'm a football fan, so I was very pleased with that. When the evening was over I went to thank the gentleman who had introduced me this way, and I told him how right he had been with the comparison. After all, both Beckham and I have the same problem - how to retire gracefully."

Ahtisaari's enthusiasm is undimmed, and today he is in Doha to address the second annual Silatech summit, dedicated to education and job creation across the Arab world.

"One hundred million people in the Middle East are out of work," he points out. "You have to analyse how the economies of different countries in this region are developing, and where the jobs are coming, and then train people for those jobs and rally the support of the business community to work with them.

"The onus is on both governments and the private sector; it varies from one country to another," Ahtisaari says. "There are huge differences - in some cases it takes more than a year to set up a new company, in others it takes a few days.

"You have to speed that up because who can wait a year to start a small enterprise? How enthusiastic can you be? You kill the enthusiasm if you don't simplify the process, and that has been a disadvantage in the Arab world," he adds.

Ahtisaari argues that the private and public sectors in the region should join forces to ensure that required training is available, and then that the jobs are there to be taken.

"When you speak to some people you hear that they have been through half a dozen training courses, and are still unemployed. So training is offered for the sake of training, and that must change," he says.

Governments must support research and development work, and enable the fast-tracking of entrepreneurs looking to establish small businesses, he adds.

While Ahtisaari accepts that it will be a "tough job" to provide employment for 100 million people, there are basic changes that must be implemented in order for the region's youth to have even a chance of fulfilling their potential.

"We must look also for financial institutions that are prepared to become entrepreneurs - it's not all about migrant workers," he adds. "It makes such a difference when you want to start a company and there is actually money available. In my experience, in my country, the sector that employs most people is small and medium-sized companies, not big companies."

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