The Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has elected The Honorable Martin Indyk and The Honorable George Salem as Co-Chairs. Martin and George bring decades of organizational leadership, experience in the public and private sectors, and a deep commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. They succeed former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ann Korologos, who is remaining on the MEII board.
Martin Indyk stated, “George and I express our deep appreciation to Ann for her inspiring leadership and are delighted she will continue to provide us with her insights and advice. We are excited to help MEII expand its reach and impact in the MENA region, creating jobs, improving lives, and contributing to long-term peace and security.”
George Salem said, “Martin and I are honored to lead this organization that has already done so much for entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises in the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan and Tunisia. We look forward to working with our regionally based staff, government partners, and the many businesses MEII supports.”
Martin Indyk is a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, he served as executive vice president of the Brookings Institution, director of its Foreign Policy Program, and founding director of the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings. He served as U.S Special Envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations from July 2013-June 2014; U.S ambassador to Israel from 1995-1997 and from 2000-2001; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs from 1997-2000; and Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian affairs at the National Security Council from 1993-1995.
George Salem is a Strategic Advisor to the law firm of DLA Piper and helps direct development of the firm’s Middle East and Gulf region practice. He served as U.S. Solicitor of Labor from 1985- 1989. In 2003, Mr. Salem was named to the U.S Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy’s Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy in the Arab and Muslim World. Mr. Salem co-founded the United Palestinian Appeal, Inc. in 1978, and co-founded the Arab American Institute in 1985. He currently serves as Chairman of AAI and the AAI Foundation. On behalf of the Bush Administration, he served as an official observer to the Palestinian elections held in February 2005, and also as President George W. Bush’s representative to the funeral of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. In 1992 Mr. Salem received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The award is presented annually to Americans of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their own ethnic groups and to American society.
MEII is a non-profit organization that leverages public and private resources to deliver finance and technical assistance programs to stimulate sustainable economic activity and long-lasting job creation in the MENA region. Building on the conviction that a sound economic base is one clear path to social and political stability, MEII effectively leverages public and private resources to deliver sustainable financial solutions to foster long-term economic development.
