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Press Release
Young Arab Leaders (YAL),
in Partnership with Business for Diplomatic Action, Launches
the Second Arab American Business Fellowship Program
Leading GCC and
American Corporations Support the Initiative
Dubai – October 21st,
2008:
Young Arab Leaders (YAL), the region’s foremost development
platform for business, public sector and civil society
leaders, has partnered with Business for Diplomatic Action,
America’s leading private-sector led public diplomacy
initiative to organise the second Arab American Business
Fellowship (AABF) program. The initiative is sponsored by
Dow Chemical India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) GmbH through
its charitable arm, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation.
AABF is a partnership
between the Young Arab Leaders (YAL), Business for
Diplomatic Action (BDA), the US Centre for Citizen Diplomacy
(USCCD), and the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC).
The AABF program is
designed to foster mutual understanding and respect between
Arab and American societies. The program aims to provide
insights regarding the diverse regions of the world, which
will ultimately help shape the future of the national
economies of the United States and countries in the Arab
world.
This year’s program is
offering over 20 young Arab and American professionals the
opportunity to gain exposure to the business practices,
culture and way of life in the United States and Middle East
respectively. The program will see young leaders visit
various organizations, such as leading companies, schools,
universities, non-profit organizations and the local media
in both regions. Comprehensive programs have been created by
each organization to allow for interaction and opportunities
to share insights and experiences from a business and
personal perspective.
The Fellowship was
launched on October 4th, 2008,
with 13 young Arab
professionals travelling to the US for a 23-day
orientation-visit to leading US-based corporations such as
The Dow Chemical Company, Boeing, Microsoft, MidAmerican
Energy, Siegel & Gale, McManus Foundation, Rudin Management
and Bloomberg, among others.
Speaking at the start of
AABF, Assem O. Kabesh, Chief Executive Officer, YAL, said,
“AABF is a major program that YAL has initiated. The
Fellowship provides young Arab and American leaders with a
unique opportunity to learn more about diverse corporate
practices and gain invaluable insight from companies in
different business and cultural environments. I am confident
that our partnership with Dow will substantially help us in
making this initiative a concrete and sustainable program.”
John Dearborn, president,
Dow Chemical IMEA GmbH, said “At Dow, our mission is to
constantly improve what is essential to human progress. As
the Middle East continues to emerge as a dynamic region, we
are committed to working closely with organisations such as
YAL to further support the development of the individuals
and communities in which we operate. We are delighted to
sponsor the AABF program, which will allow young Arabs and
Americans to gain insights into the rich, diverse and
evolving business environment and culture of the United
States and the Arab world.”
“The world of business
provides an ideal setting for building strong bridges of
understanding between countries and cultures,” said Keith
Reinhard, President of Business for Diplomatic Action.
“Business for Diplomatic Action is proud of its role in
establishing the Arab & American Business Fellowship Program
which allows Americans and Arabs to interact around best
business practices, thus creating new bonds of friendship
and cooperation.”
Through the AABF program,
9 young American professionals will also have a similar
opportunity to experience the Arab business and cultural
environment. The American Fellows started the program on
October 9th, 2008 with a visit to Dow Chemical
IMEA GmbH. TATWEER and Global Investment House in Kuwait
will also host the American fellows while they are in the
Middle East.
The Fellowship is part of
YAL’s Leadership Development Program that aims at exposing
Arab and American fellows to each other’s culture and
business environment to foster mutual understanding and
ongoing dialogue.
The Fellows for the
program were identified by YAL through a careful screening
process based on specific criteria. AABF is not an
internship program for students or entry-level employees;
instead, it is structured for high-potential executives from
participating Arab and U.S. companies. The ideal candidate
is an Arab living and working in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region or an American residing in the USA,
between the age of 25 to 35 years, with at least 5 years
working experience in an established career with a track
record of excellence and achievements. Fellows chosen to
participate in the Initiative should also show their
commitment to returning home and contributing to the
socio-economic development of their respective countries by
leveraging the skills and knowledge acquired from the
program.
---------------------------------------------------
About Young Arab Leaders (YAL):
The Young Arab Leaders is
a network of Arab men and women who have seen the power of
action in their own lives, reached unprecedented levels of
success for their age, are positive and can see beyond
today’s difficulties to that vision of a prosperous Arab
future. These leaders are currently in prominent positions
of responsibility and strive for extraordinary achievement.
They believe that their efforts today can have an impact on
their communities, countries and the region as a whole. For
more information, please visit:
www.yaleaders.org
About Business for
Diplomatic Action (BDA)
BDA is a private sector
non-profit directed by pre-eminent communications,
marketing, political science, global development and media
professionals. The organization steers a collective of
multinational companies in the development, sharing, and
warehousing of ideas, insights, and guidance on
communication and public diplomacy issues that U.S.
businesses are uniquely positioned to address. For more
about Business for Diplomatic Action, please visit:
www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org and
www.worldcitizensguide.org
About Dow:
With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000
employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company
that combines the power of science and technology with the
"Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to
human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of
products and services to customers in around 160 countries,
connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of
sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water,
food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal
care products. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The
Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow
can be found at
www.dow.com
About The Dow Chemical Company Foundation:
Established in 1979, The
Dow Chemical Company Foundation serves Dow’s philanthropic
needs by providing charitable gifts to eligible non-profit
organizations in the communities where Dow operates that
contribute to community success, support sustainability,
foster science in society and stimulate innovation.
For further information on
YAL, contact:
Amira Abdulla
Upasna Swain
Director-Regional PR
Communications Manager
- YAL
Dubai
International Financial Centre
[T] + 971 4 365 0537
Tel: +971 4 362
2433
[M] +971 50 327 2518
E-mail:
amira.abdulla@difc.ae
[E]
upasna.swain@yaleaders.org
Rachid El Hassani
GolinHarris
[T] + 971 4 332 3308 – ext.
204
[M] +971 50 950 1525
[E]
relhassani@golinharris.ae
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