DUBAI, 7 June 2005 — Young Arab Leaders (YAL) has announced its new strategic partnership with DaimlerChrysler, one of the leading multinational companies in the world. The alliance will allow both organizations to launch initiatives that support the youth in the region.
Mohammed Al-Gergawi, chairman of Young Arab Leaders said, “Joining hands with one of the top international companies such as DaimlerChrysler is an important step, as the company believes in the vital role the youth plays in the development of their countries and the importance of grooming them to be competent leaders in the future. DaimlerChrysler would provide training programs to improve the leadership skills of Arab youth and prepare them to play a pivotal role in the development process.”
He assured that the Arab youth have the ability which by giving the right opportunities can be channelized into continuing the developmental process.
Al-Gergawi added, “As per the partnership DaimlerChrysler will provide opportunities for young leaders such as sourcing and funding scholarship for Arab students, providing internships, creating forums and working together to achieve YAL objectives.”
“The countries of the Middle East represent a key region for future growth - one that displays tremendous potentials,” said DaimlerChrysler Chairman of the Board of Management Prof. Jürgen E. Schrempp. “DaimlerChrysler wants to contribute its expertise as a global corporation, and to expand the already existing extensive partnerships in the region.”
The cooperation between DaimlerChrysler and YAL includes the new Arab-European Exchange Forum. Under the patronage of Prof. Schrempp, this annual forum will bring together 50 YAL members with top managers from the DaimlerChrysler Group and other international working companies for an exchange of ideas and opinions. The conference location will alternate between Stuttgart and a city in the Middle East, with the first meeting to take place in Stuttgart.
DaimlerChrysler board of management member responsible for corporate development, Dr. Rüdiger Grube said, “Our cooperative efforts are focusing on intensifying the relationship between up-and-coming managers in the region and experienced managers from DaimlerChrysler and other companies.”
Dr. Grube added, “The YAL members can intensively use the networks that result to help shape the future economic development of their countries.”
Apart from this, partnership activities will include obtaining and providing scholarships at for universities in the Middle East. There are also plans to offer internship positions at DaimlerChrysler companies. The first stipends will be granted this fall for the 2005/2006 academic year. The internships - which will run for six months each - are scheduled to start in the spring of 2006. DaimlerChrysler also aims to ask other major companies to put internships at talented Arab students’ disposal.
YAL is an independent pan-Arab organization which aims to create the necessary environment for future leaders to grow and develop in the region.
It is a network of 500 of the region’s leaders in the different sectors from the business community, politics, academia, media, arts, culture and all other areas of civil society, who are committed to improving the state of the Arab world. These Young Arab Leaders leverage their proven ability to achieve in their personal and professional lives and extend it to developing their professional sectors and particularly to nurturing future leadership in these sectors.
They work on projects ranging from establishing mentorship programs in organizations across the region, to increasing the number of scholarships available for Arab students as well as networking across sectors and countries to improve the capabilities of the region as a whole.
