AN ARAB-AMERICAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN FORMED IN ATLANTA TO DEVELOP TIES BETWEEN THE SOUTHEAST REGION AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE ASSOCIATION WILL CONSIST OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, SAID HISHAM ARAIM, WHO WILL SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH HAS BEEN NAMED THE ARAB-AMERICAN BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (ABPA). MR. ARAIM IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSAL INVESTMENT AND MANUFACTURING CO., A MANAGEMENT FIRM WITH DIVERSIFIED INVESTMENTS.
THE FOUNDING MEMBERS INCLUDE DOCTORS, ENGINEERS, ATTORNEYS, CPAS, AND ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS BOTH ARAB-AMERICAN AND NON-ARAB AMERICANS AS MEMBERS.
OUR MEMBERS HAVE GOOD CONTACTS AND UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS PRACTICES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, SAID MR. ARAIM, WHO ALSO IS A MEMBER OF THE WORLD TRADE CLUB ATLANTA. WE WILL HELP PEOPLE TO AVOID MISTAKES THAT OFTEN ARE MADE THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISINTERPRETATION OF PROCEDURES OF DOING BUSINESS IN VARIOUS ARAB COUNTRIES.
THE ATLANTA ABPA WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO MIDDLE EAST CITIZENS COMING TO THE U.S. IN SEARCH OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND WILL PROVIDE THE BASIC CONTACTS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES PROPERLY IN THE ATLANTA BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PLANS TO BUILD AN ARAB COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH WILL PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE ASSOCIATION.
THE GROUP HAS ACCESS TO ALL ARAB COUNTRIES FROM MOROCCO TO IRAQ, ACCORDING TO MR. ARAIM, BUT IS ESPECIALLY WELL-CONNECTED IN EGYPT, THE GULF COUNTRIES, SAUDI ARABIA, JORDAN, LEBANON, SYRIA AND IRAQ.
MR. ARAIM CONSIDERS IRAQ POTENTIALLY AN IMPORTANT MARKET FOR THE U.S. AS SOON AS THE TRADE EMBARGO IS LIFTED, AND HE WELCOMES INQUIRIES CONCERNING ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES.
THE ABPA, HE SAID, WOULD BE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IN ASSISTING SOUTHEASTERN COMPANIES DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND MEMBERS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL ABPA, HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON D.C.
THE NATIONAL ABPA HAS 1,400 MEMBERS IN AFFILIATED CHAPTERS IN CHICAGO, NEW YORK, HOUSTON, SAN FRANCISCO AND WASHINGTON D.C., AND PROVIDES NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE U.S. THE NATIONAL ABPA’S MEMBERS ALSO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY AND SELL COMPANIES, PARTICIPATE IN JOINT VENTURES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD BE OF INTEREST TO ATLANTA COMPANIES.
IN TIME, THE ATLANTA ASSOCIATION WILL HAVE A JOB REFERRAL PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS WHO ARE RELOCATING WITHIN THE U.S. AND WILL SET UP INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE LOCAL MEMBERS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (404) 512-0130, OR SEND A FAX TO (404) 512-0114.