Arab World ambassadors join Arab league in conference saluting American Arab activism at Washington D.C. commemoration this week
The Fourth Annual Arab-American Day 2015, hosted by the League of Arab States in cooperation with the Council of the Arab Ambassadors in Washington, DC., ended an afternoon of panel discussions and serious business networking on a cheerful note of music and song during its annual gala reception at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, in Washington, DC.
Andrew Gelfuso, Vice President, TCMA/Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, welcomed the guests by stressing how deeply honored he was to host the Arab League and support such a compelling conference at his facility in Washington DC. “It is our dream to expand our relationship with the US. – Arab community by inspiring innovation and social development and fostering economic growth in the Arab-American community.”
(l-r) Distinguished leaders at Arab American Day reception 2015- Sameh Alfonse, Deputy Chief Representative, League of Arab States in DC; Andrew Gelfuso, Vice President, TCMA/Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center; Ambassador Salah A. Sarhan, Chief Representative, League of Arab States in DC; H.E. Antoine Chedid, Ambassador of Lebanon in DC; Ambassador David Thorne, Senior Economic Adviser to Secretary of State; Mr. Ralph Nader, author, lecturer, attorney & political activist; and Mr. David Hamod, President & CEO, National US Arab Chamber of Commerce. (PRNewsFoto/League of Arab States)For his part, H.E Salah A. Sarhan, Chief Representative of the Arab League, said, “Building on the past, for this year we sought to enhance the Arab American Day activities by expanding it to include a Forum of Panels and Workshops with discussions that are aimed at celebrating Arab-American entrepreneurship and innovation.” He noted that “We brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, public sector officials, and thought leaders from across the Arab region and Arab-American communities with the goal of exchanging ideas.”
The afternoon of panel discussions and workshops featured 30 speakers and panelists for in-depth discussions and brainstorming of important challenges facing the American-Arab community. The goal was to reach “a look forward” at ways to connect the community to a larger global ecosystem.
This year’s event was attended by 600 guests, represented officials from the World Bank, Congress, U.S. Department of State, diplomats and Arab-American communities and organizations. While enjoying sumptuous Arabic food and pastries, Egyptian oud player and composer Ramy Adly and international Syrian Opera singer Lubana Al Quntar mesmerized the crowd with music and song!
The evening’s keynote speakers also included Ambassador David Thorne, Senior Economic Advisor to the Secretary of State; H.E Antoine Chedid, Ambassador of Lebanon, David Hamod, President and CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and Ralph Nader, author, lecturer and political activist who inspired the audience with his remarks on the Arab culture, calling on the U.S to be a humanitarian super power and share with world the best of America.
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