Muhammad A. Agha

Muhammad A. Agha () is an expert in corporate sustainability, strategic alliances, forecasting, and economic development and innovation. Agha's experience in the USA, Asia and Arab World includes 15 years of developing and implementing partnership initiatives with MTN Group, Emaar, Financial Times and Ernst & Young, TÜSÄ°AD, ACCI, Council of Saudi Chambers and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Tenure with the United Nations
He was named MENA's Champion by UNDP for private, public and civic sector partnerships and resource mobilization in 2007 through 2012 and the Lead Expert on launching the partnerships networks based initiative, the UN Global Compact, in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunis and Syria.
Muhammad established the largest network in the region with an Advisory Council of 23 economic sectors’ leaders. The network made it to the UN Leaders Summit as Patron in 2010. An effort labeled as a case of excellent and adopted by the Brazil Network in the 2012 Rio+ 20 Conference.
In , Agha's team was awarded the "2012 Top Three Most Communicative Networks" rank, which is based on a 7000 corporate signatories survey in 135 countries.
The Digital Economy and 2014 G20 Summit
Agha, currently, is an Executive Member of the Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics (GCEL) and serves its global program through the World Logistics Council as Head of Strategic Partnerships out of their Asia Headquarters in the landmark Petronas Twin Towers.
Early life
Agha grew up under the influence of his father, Abdulkader Agha, a high rank diplomat. The young Agha was educated at international schools and obtained his undergraduate studies in Economic Sciences from the Lebanese University in Lebanon, an MBA from Davenport University and an MA in international politics and economics from Georgetown.
Profession
He trained at Harvard and the University of Michigan, beginning his career as a freelancer with Middle Eastern investment groups based in Washington, D.C. He returned to the Middle East in 2006 through 2012 to launch the first business-intelligence practice in the region called SAA, LLC. In 2007, he was elected as Regional Director for UNDP for Public Private Partnership PPP programmes in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunis and Syria, the most recent of which was Global Compact an initiative started by UN Secretary General Kofi Anan. The project aims at a more sustainable and inclusive business practice in the Middle East, encouraging the private sector to get engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Agha was elected as Secretary-General of the Advisory Council for Global Compact, a team that includes heavyweights in the business community and doyens of Federations of Chambers of Commerce. Other members include private education firms, and both government sector and UN officials.
He then moved to Switzerland to join the World Logistics Council - GCEL and roams among their offices in Geneva, Beirut, Panama City, Kuala Lumpur, Michigan and Washington, D.C.
Agha is currently responsible for the awareness and positioning efforts as well as expansion of the global consensus required to deploy the Digital Economy Platform and its e-Finance, e-Commerce, e-Insurance and e-Logistics pillars. He liaises with Pan-regional Organizations and Government officials to push forward the global deployment agenda.
Relevant country institutions include Ministries of Trade, Finance, Economy, and Central Banks. Relevant Pan Regional Organizations include Organization of American States, ASEAN, League of Arab States, African Union and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Re represented GCEL at the 9th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in ExCel London. Agha lead the efforts to place GCEL's platform on the 2014 B20 and G20 in Australia.
Contributions and professional associations
Agha writes occasionally in business magazines such as Forward Magazine, The United Nations Business Column and LinkedIn Blogs
Muhammad's young and diverse endeavors associated his work with doyens of business, politics and global affairs like Surin Pitsuwan and as well as Young Global Leaders Abdulsalam Haykal.
Residence and affiliations
He resides in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai and is active in a number of firms and civil society organisations / NGOs including:
* The Liberty Fund (USA)
* Young Entrepreneurs Association
* International Institute for Political & Economic Studies (Greece)
* World Affairs Council of America (USA)
* The Fund for American Studies (USA)
* International Chamber of Commerce
* Society Of United States Graduates
* Davenport University Students Ambassadors Club (USA)
* Harvard Arab Alumni Association (USA).
He is also a lecturer of International Relations.
Relationships and personal life
Agha is married to Rim Al Zalek.
Rim was born and raised in Dubai. She went to DIS and was a straight scholarship student through college. Professionally, Rim is trained in marketing and business analysis by The Coca Cola Company and Fransabank.
The Agha's toured the world for business and leisure. They had homes in exotic Kuala Lumpur and Beirut.

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