The Chairman of the Board for CGS, Gov. David Beasley, hosted the unscripted conversation with Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, and the New York Times best-selling author, Ted Dekker in conjunction with the release of Medearis and Dekker’s new book, “Tea with Hezbollah.” The men addressed a wide range of questions submitted by audience members via the Facebook fan page. They discussed common misconceptions between the East and the West, as well as the prejudices that prevent people from engaging in real relationship with one another.

For more information about “Why Do You Fear Me?” visit their website. You can also take part in the follow-up initiative, “I Will Be a Friend.”

• “Tourism: The South Carolina Experience”

• “Getting Ahead and Staying Ahead: Tourism Competitiveness for Sudan”

• “Tourism Planning in China: Sino-African Cooperation Perspective and Prospect”

• “Tourism in Sudan: A Marketing Perspective”

• “Communicating Destination Image Online: The Case of Sudan”

In addition to the conference, the delegation visited major tourism sites in Sudan and consulted with the Ministry of Tourism.

Read more about CGS international relations in the following articles:

Yemeni-American Relations Get a Boost from Economic Conference PDF

Conference of Yemen & Global Economy: Strategies for Growth PDF

Yemni-American Live Trade Meeting to be Organized, says Industry Minister PDF

As a consequence, the elite Tunisians and the largely American conference delegation they hosted, even three years later, no longer regard each other as potential or actual enemies divided by culture, religion, and the Atlantic. Now unafraid of each other and able to talk about anything – from trade barriers to tax climate to business deals, from our kids to our marriages to pop culture, from the Quran to the Bible to The Wealth of Nations – we now see each other as business allies and friends sharing a common humanity. CGS co-founder Henry Deneen relates an anecdote that captures the import of this kind of private outreach by Americans at a time of lethal tension: “On September 20, 2001 – just nine days after the 9/11 attacks – my wife and I met in Tunisia with local conference planners, including the President and Board Members of the Tunisian/American Chamber of Commerce. They were downcast, certain we had come to cancel the conference in light of the attacks. Once we assured them of our desire to move forward, our hosts told us, with great emotion, that they would never, ever forget us! That was a great moment, the kind of moment Gov. Beasley and I want to replicate over and over again throughout the world by means of CGS.”

For more initiatives in North Africa, click here.

Chick Fil-A in Southeast Asia? In October 2009, six owners and operators of the popular restaurant chain traveled to Asia to present three leadership conferences on SERVE principles. What is SERVE? Read on to see how CGS partnered with Chick Fil-A in Southeast Asia.

In October, 2009, CGS partnered with Chick Fil-A to present 6 SERVE Conferences in Southeast Asia.  These powerful training events featured executives from one of America’s most successful restaurant chains, which pioneered the SERVE leadership model. Each presenter offered practical, real world insights on how their five leadership practices lead to success.

SERVE Leadership Principles

See and shape the future

Engage and develop others

Reinvent Continuously

Value Results and Relationships

Embody the Values

The Conferences were designed to: 

• Educate and empower leaders to be more serving and less self-serving
• Create organization-wide awareness of what great leaders know and do
• Define leadership and recognize behaviors that great leaders demonstrate when serving those they lead
• Inspire managers who want to increase employee engagement and initiative
• Support a culture change that embraces an attitude of service to others

For more initiatives in Southeast Asia, click here.

• “Using Financial Principles in Small Business”

• “Developing an Effective Marketing Plan”

• “Effective Problem Solving”

• Crossing Cultures: A Dialogue in Appreciating Culture and Gaining Common Understanding”

For more initiatives in Southeast Asia, click here.

The Arabian Peninsula is known for its antique history, artifacts, and beautiful, rugged landscape. In February 2007, the Center for Global Strategies collaborated with forty Yemeni tourism experts in hosting a seminar in the country entitled “Tourism in Yemen: A Catalyst for the Future.”

The seminar, hosted in Yemen by CGS professionals, focused on exploiting and enlarging the tourism capital in the country. In attendance, along with approximately 40 Yemeni Tourism experts and marketplace professionals, was the Yemeni Minister of Tourism. The focus was on coaching Yemeni professionals in using the resources of the country in order to make tourism a more profitable and attractive industry. The meetings culminated in an agreement between the Minister of Tourism and the Center for Global Strategies, stating that CGS would continue to provide ongoing consulting resources to help in the development of Yemen’s tourism industry. The President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, welcomed the delegation and conference, and underlined the need for American investments. Read more here:

President Saleh Welcomes American Investments in Yemen PDF

For more initiatives in the Middle East, click here.

 • “The Role of Leadership in Economic Development”

• “Port-Productivity: Gateway to Economic Growth”

• “What Makes for Prosperity? Global Lessons about the Market Economy”

• “Corporate Governance and Corruption, Public and Private”

• “Systematic Ethics – Impacting the Business Environment”

• “Opportunities in a Post-Industrial Era”

• “Wealth, Well-Being, and Capital Markets”

• “Economic Development Decision Making and Impacts: An Overview from the Southeastern United States”

The delegation also addressed American investment in Yemen with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. President Saleh reacted positively to CGS’ delegation and its message, saying, “We are welcoming US investments and are ready to provide facilities, care, and warranties required to ease this process to achieve the reciprocated interest.”

Read about the delegation from Yemen hosted by CGS in 2007 here.

Related Articles:

US Experts Investing Hope in Yemen PDF

President Receives US Economists PDF

US Business Delegation Leaves PDF

For more initiatives in the Middle East, click here.

A dozen of Yemen’s top executives, government leaders, and private sector CEOs traveled to South Carolina for a week of sessions and meetings with CGS personnel and leaders of manufacturing, government, tourism, and industry in South Carolina. As personal relationships developed between the professionals, all parties became better equipped to further strengthen relations between South Carolina and Yemen. The trip included a visit of a major local Wal-mart shipping center, training in Columbia, a visit and exploration of the port capabilities of Charleston, and eating at a variety of American and Arabic restaurants. Delegations such as this build lasting friendships and establish the grounds for future trade and business agreements.