Mideast Executives Note Differences as They Urge Ties

A Des Moines-based center hosted the Young Arab Leaders' tour to promote understanding and connections.

By S.P. Dinnen
Des Moines Register Business Writer

November 2, 2007

The Sultanate of Oman may never become Iowa's top trading partner. But with the help of Ahmed Ali Al Barwani, people of the Middle Eastern nation and the Midwest might at least become better acquainted.

Barwani, assistant manager of an auto dealership in Oman, is part of a team of young business professionals from the Middle East visiting Des Moines and New York this month to learn how Americans conduct their business affairs.

The Young Arab Leaders' tour is part of an effort launched by Des Moines-based U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy to promote understanding and respect between American and Arab business communities. Ann Schodde, executive director of the privately funded U.S. Center, said the tour's aim is to "improve the business I.Q. of everyone involved and... enhance opportunities for international business."

With polls showing anti-Americanism growing, Schodde's group and others believe a poor U.S. image is bad for business. The Young Arab Leaders' tour is also sponsored by Business for Diplomatic Action, a San Francisco group encouraging public diplomacy by business travelers.

After most of a week in Des Moines, the diplomatic welcome seemed to have some effect on Barwani.

"I've been watching movies and reading (about America)," he said. "You come here, and it's absolutely different."

Different as in much more litigious, the Middle Eastern professionals learned in visits with Des Moines-area businesses. Ibrahim Kharman, director of the project management office for Paltel Group, a Palestinian telecommunications company, said it appears that a lot more business lobbying occurs in the United States than in his country.

Also different is less crime than what television or the cinema might impress upon a foreigner.

Both Barwani and Zahra Al Dahmani, a business leader from the United Arab Emirates, said they had fears for their safety, or perhaps of discrimination, given current tensions between the United States and the Middle East. They said that has not been the case.

Al Dahmani is a senior manager with Dubai World, which sparked security fears in Congress when it tried to take over management of six U.S. ports last year. The dispute bruised feelings in the Middle East, according to news reports at the time.

The team toured a central Iowa farm and met with state and local politicians. The visitors spent much of their time at Principal Financial Group Inc. and MidAmerican Energy Co., speaking with executives about marketing and business plans.

Mary O'Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Principal, said that as a global business, her company is always interested in building relationships.

"It's just a great opportunity to learn about other cultures," she said after discussing Principal's marketing efforts with the team. Principal does no business in the Middle East, but a company office in Malaysia has developed investment products that adhere to Sharia, the Islamic code of law that forbids charging most forms of interest.

Diane Rasmussen, a program assistant with the U.S. Center, said the visit is a pilot project that could lead to a team of young Americans touring the Middle East next year.

"We're trying to develop some positive connections," she said.