Second annual Young Arab Leaders forum launches program to promote Arab-American dialogue

According to an announcement by YAL Board Chairman HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, who is also the Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre, the new YAL programs include:

The YAL Arab-American Global Action Institute (GAI)

The GAI, supported by the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, will act as an international organization dedicated to strengthening relationships and deepening understanding between the Middle East and the United States. The Institute will reach out to global leaders through its office in New York City. Operating as a non-profit, non-partisan organization, the institute will provide a platform for building awareness and promotion of dialogue and co-operation between the Arab world and U.S. leaders from business, politics, and civil society.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program (IEP)

Also supported by the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, this program will focus on
• Policy reform issues in relation to the culture of entrepreneurship in the region and the design of concrete activities to promote policy dialogue, training and awareness building for the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
• Creation of direct networks to stimulate targeted partnerships between regional entrepreneurs and businesses.
• Technology transfer to spread applied knowledge, expertise and awareness through tailor made training and educational activities.

The Arab and American Business Fellowship Program (AABFP)

The AABFP is an exchange program whereby YAL chapters host rising young American professional and leaders and offer them insights and learning opportunities about life and culture in the Middle East. In addition, the program runs in parallel in partnership with key American organizations that host young Arab professionals and leaders on highly focused fellowship programs to learn about US politics, business and culture. Such partnerships are currently implemented in partnership with the Business for Diplomatic Action, Aspen Institute, Counsel on Foreign Relations, and Centre for Strategic Studies.

Dr. Bin Sulaiman said,

"Innovation and entrepreneurship are key issues and must be integrated as fundamental components of business education. An entrepreneur needs to know how to utilize the technical elite responsible for such efforts and tap the financial resources available to meet the challenges of knowledge-based businesses."

Mike Gambrell, Executive Vice President, The Dow Chemical Company, USA., says that his company shares YAL's vision to enable young people to build bridges between Arab and American cultures.

"Dow has always believed in strongly supporting the aspirations of the local communities in which it operates and in contributing to sustainable global economic development. Through our YAL alliance, we aim to increase mutual understanding and respect between two diverse regions - the Middle East and North America. Dow is honored to form this partnership with YAL"

More than 200 Arabs and Americans attended the YAL Global Action Forum at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York from 14 March to 15 March.