Jim LeBlanc

Atlanta will be one of three American cities visited by Kuwaiti business leaders and experts on a trip aimed at fostering cultural understanding between the U.S. and the Middle East, according to Jim LeBlanc, executive director of the American Kuwaiti Alliance in Washington.

“Atlanta has a nice feel to it for the type of concept and content that we’re trying to deal with, which is basically to enhance the dialogue between Kuwaitis and Americans and the Middle East,” Mr. LeBlanc told GlobalAtlanta. 

The “Eye on Kuwait” tour will be in Atlanta for two days Oct. 24-25, and the alliance is working on scheduling meetings with both Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Although VIP receptions and diplomatic breakfasts will be important events to help the delegation build relationships, the “anchor” of the trip will be a town-hall style public forum to be hosted by the Halle Institute for Global Learning at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum, Mr. LeBlanc said.

Many Americans’ knowledge about Kuwait stops at the fact that the democracy on the Persian Gulf is oil-rich and was defended by the United States when Iraq invaded in the early 1990s. 

At no time in history has it been more essential that the American people understand Kuwait and its role as a friend of the U.S. in the Middle East, Mr. Leblanc added.

At the town hall meeting, the general public will be able to question the delegates, who are “experts or generally knowledgeable in a particular field.”  The confirmed panelists will be able to speak with authority on a wide range of issues, such as financing, energy, democratic development and geopolitics in Kuwait, he said.

Although it’s not yet official, Mr. LeBlanc hopes that Kuwait’s ambassador to the U.S., Salim Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah, and other officials from the Kuwaiti embassy can join the delegation. 

In addition to bolstering Kuwait’s image in America, the trip will create the opportunity for these business leaders to become spokespersons for Atlanta in their country. 

“Atlanta has a positive image (among the delegates), but not detailed,” Mr. LeBlanc said.  “And that’s one of things we’re trying to do: not only to raise the profile and image of Kuwait, but also of American cities like Atlanta.” 

The delegates will fly to the states via a United Airlines Inc. nonstop flight from Kuwait City to Washington that was established in late 2006. Mr. LeBlanc said that Kuwait is becoming such a business hub for the Middle East that United is considering increasing the frequency of its flights from three times per week to daily. 

Mr. LeBlanc said the delegation will spend a few days there before moving on to Chicago and eventually down to Atlanta.

Although more business leaders could come, so far the confirmed delegates include: Adnan Al Bahar, chairman and managing director, International Investor; Haila Al-Mekaimi, professor of political science and head of the EURO-GULF Research Unit, Kuwait University; Nader Al-Essa, CEO, F&N Consulting Co.; Shafeeq Ghabra, president, Jusoor Arabiya Co. and Rola Dashti, chairwoman, Kuwait Economic Society.

The alliance was established in 2003, and Mr. LeBlanc began working for the organization after returning from Iraq last summer, where he worked as the country director for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.