Robert Zoellick promoted the free trade ideal

Reconstruction of Iraq and the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians have so far dominated the Forum's agenda.

But policymakers and businesspeople are now discussing how to stimulate the region's economies - a vital ingredient in long term stability.

President George W Bush has put forward proposals for a free trade area linking the region with the US.

And US trade representative Robert Zoellick called on Middle East countries to revive their tradition of free and open commerce.

WTO expansion plans

The nations must leave behind a pattern of "ruinous military conflicts, misguided economic policies and brutal suppression of liberties," Mr Zoellick said.

The Middle East is hosting the forum for the first time

And he quoted statistics demonstrating that the region has suffered from a steady decline in exports and inward investment.

Mr Zoellick also blamed "old hatreds, political instability and corruption" for curtailing US economic involvement in the region.

The US has recently concluded a free-trade agreement with one Arab country, Jordan, the host of the Forum.

US officials say that Jordanian exports to the US have climbed rapidly with the removal of trade barriers, and want to extend the same principles to the whole region.

Long term plan

This regional proposal comes on top of US and others encouraging Middle Eastern countries to join the World Trade Organisation.

For the US, freer trade is part of the answer to the Middle East's record of disappointing economic growth.

The difficult part of the regional trade proposal would be persuading some Arab governments that they should join a deal involving Israel.

Mr Bush has said he hopes a US-Middle East free-trade deal might be in place within 10 years, but some economists say it might take much longer than that.

Iraqi workforce

In addition to the central theme of free trade, international experts are to tackle more than 20 topics, from building IT industries and developing tourism to water management and Arab banking.

The reconstruction of Iraq has also been at the centre of discussions, with Paul Bremer, the US administrator of Iraq, one of the key speakers.

But his comments were largely overshadowed by calls for more Iraqi involvement in the rebuilding process.

Bechtel, the engineering firm which holds the central contract to rebuild Iraq, has now promised that Iraqi labour will make up between 50% and 70% of its workforce.

Closing words

The Forum closed with addresses by the host, King Abdullah, and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"In politics, as in economics and culture, our world is being torn between the winds of globalisation and the forces of isolation," King Abdullah said.

"To make our way forward requires a steady purpose and we must work together to keep the path," he added.