200 young Arab and American leaders meet in New York at the Young Arab Leader's Global Action Forum

Led by HE Dr. Omar bin Sulaiman, Chairman of the board of Directors of YAL and Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre, Chaired by Shehab Gargash, Chairman of the Global Action Forum: Arab and American Dialogue and Managing Director of Daman Investment, UAE and presented by The Dow Chemical Company, the Second Global Action Forum focusing on Arab and American Dialogue will take place at the Jumeirah Essex House, New York on March 14th - 15th.

The Forum is also being sponsored by Daman Investment, Future Pipe Industries and Morgan Stanley. This forum will build on the success of the previous Forum held in 2006.

HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman said:

'With the aim of supporting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between leaders in the Arab world and their counterparts in the USA, the 2006 action oriented Forum brought together 200 American and Arab leaders, resulted in a series of commitments and tangible initiatives to help Arabs and Americans find common ground for greater understanding, knowledge exchange and business opportunities. Two years after our first meeting and over the course of two-days, we are to take this initiative a step forward and translate the outcomes into actionable projects. YAL will announce three major programs to Increase Mutual Understanding and Develop Business Relationships during the Forum.'

The Forum will focus on cultivating and developing innovation in the Arab world and will address regional policy reform issues impacting entrepreneurship.

Shehab Gergash said: 'The creation of direct networks will help to stimulate targeted partnerships between regional entrepreneurs and businesses and spread the 'wealth' of applied knowledge, expertise and awareness beyond the normal channels of privilege through tailor made trainings and educational activities across the region.'

As Dow is the presenter of the forum, John Dearborn, Regional President - India, Middle East & Africa, Dow added, 'Dow is proud to present the Global Action Forum in the US this year. This is one of the key initiatives that Dow has committed to support in 2008 and 2009 as part of the Global Action Program of the Young Arab Leaders. At Dow, our commitment to engaging major world challenges is fundamental to our future success. With YAL we envision nurturing Leaders who would meet all these challenges for a better tomorrow'.

Mike Gambrell, Executive Vice President, The Dow Chemical Company will be the keynote speaker on Day 1.

One of the addresses at the forum would be by John Zogby, President of Zogby International, will discuss the American political landscape leading up to the 2008 Presidential election, with a focus on how Americans understand the contest and their nation's role in the world.

He will analyse the current policy debate between the two parties, and how each of the major candidates understand America's relationship with the Arab world, and how the outcome of this contest will determine the likely course of US Middle East policy over the next few years.

Young Arab Leaders is an independent pan-Arab organization that aims to create a new generation of young leaders capable of actively participating in the region's development process and driving it into a new phase of growth.
It is a network of the region's leaders from the business community, politics, academia, media, arts, culture and civil society, who are committed to improving the state of the Arab world.