Pittsburgh Middle East Institute 2009

The Pittsburgh Middle East Institute (PMEI) is a non-profit consortium of prominent civic institutions and corporations in Pittsburgh with a mission of promoting business, educational, and cultural ties between Pittsburgh and the countries of the Middle East.

• We launched our Institute last September, 2008, at Pittsburgh’s renowned Heinz Hall in partnership with the Allegheny Conference and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. Our keynote was New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and our conference was on how to do business in the Gulf States of the Middle East. Our distinguished panel featured pollster John Zogby, the Ambassador from Bahrain, and leaders from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar, Burt Hill, dck worldwide, RAND, and the Middle East Institute of Washington D.C.
• Our Second Annual Conference on October 13-14, 2009 will feature CNN host and Newsweek editor Fareed Zakaria, preceded by a special sponsors’ dinner. Our business conference the next day is titled “Pittsburgh and the Middle East: Forging Partnerships in Energy Sustainability and Green Technologies.” It will feature distinguished speakers from the Gulf States and a panel showcasing Pittsburgh’s expertise in energy and green innovation.
• PMEI seeks to brand Pittsburgh in the Middle East. Rated a Top 10 “City of the Future,” Pittsburgh is recognized worldwide for its great universities and as a leading center of high technology, life sciences, and green innovation. Pittsburgh’s leadership in green technologies was a key factor in its selection to host the G-20 Summit in September, 2009.
• The goal of PMEI is to foster a greater understanding between the United States and the Middle East and advance a new generation of forward-thinking global leaders and visionary business partners.
• The Middle East is moving into a new era of economic growth that requires huge investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, technology, the environment, and energy sustainability. Pittsburgh has a unique opportunity to partner with the Middle East, especially the Gulf States, in meeting these 21st Century challenges.
• Our Board of Directors is growing and includes executives of Carnegie Mellon University, dck worldwide, H.J. Heinz Company, and UPMC. The Head of our Advisory Council is The Honorable Paul O’Neill, former U.S. Treasury Secretary. The large planning committee for our annual conference comprises community leaders in education, business, and culture.
• In addition to our upcoming Second Annual Conference, our programs in 2009 have included a roundtable on doing business in Egypt (in partnership with H.J. Heinz Company), hosting authors and dignitaries from the Middle East, developing student exchange programs, and submitting proposals for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to tour Bahrain and Qatar.