Young Arab League Visitors

This article was published in "This Week"--a MidAmerican employee publication--on November 21, 2007.

November 21, 2007

MidAmerican Energy and the Principal Financial Group recently hosted two groups of young Arab businessmen and businesswomen who were in the United States on fellowships designed to promote the exchange of business practices between Arab and American companies.

The visitors came from various locations in the Middle East, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Egypt and Bahrain. "We believe the fellowship program raised the business IQ of everyone involved," said Chuck Montgomery, senior managing attorney.

"Participants learned that we share many common business concerns. Credit risk, employee retention and customer satisfaction were just a few of the topics the group discussed at length."

Montgomery, who serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, explained that this fellowship opportunity was a pilot program sponsored by organizations in Des Moines, New York, Washington, D.C., and the Middle East - the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Business for Diplomatic Action, the National U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce and Young Arab Leaders.

The pilot program was designed to test the value of business exchanges between the United States and Arab nations, and to foster better understanding between the respectivebusiness communities. Facilitating a dialogue between MidAmerican and Principal employees and fellowship participants created an environment where information, opinions and knowledge could be shared, which aids in establishing good business relations with other nations.