Download Summary and Participant List of U.S.-Pakistan Planning Retreat here.

Over the next three years, the US Muslim Engagement Initiative will take the lead in convening action-oriented, cross-societal dialogue between the U.S and Pakistan focusing primarily on thought leaders, civil society leaders and decision-makers who are respected and influential on key issues within their respective societies, but who have yet to participate in sustained dialogue with their counterparts. The intent of this initiative is to build networks based on mutual understanding and trust, where diverse leaders can identify and work towards common objectives, and catalyze actions, partnerships and initiatives that reduce overall tensions.
 
In late April, USMEI is convening a select, cross-disciplinary group of remarkable thought leaders and policy makers from the US and Pakistan to help shape a sustained dialogue. Over a long weekend at the Gilman Foundation's White Oak Conference Center, participants will help to define dialogue goals, core issues to be addressed, participants, and links to other governmental and civil society efforts. The entire event is a brainstorming session, and is private and off the record.

On Sept 25-27, 2009, in White Oak, Florida, 25 leaders from the U.S. and Muslim-majority countries convened to plan the 2009-2011 USMEI agenda. This advisory meeting included leaders from Malaysia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East, former U.S. Ambassadors, and current senior staff from the White House, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, USAID, and the U.S. Department of Defense. The meeting marked the first time that public and private sector representatives from the U.S. joined with top thought leaders from Muslim nations to shape a joint, sustained outreach and dialogue program.  The meeting also forged new relationships and deeper understanding among leaders of U.S. government, the NGO sector, private think tanks and leading figures from Muslim-majority countries, and produced agreement on the importance of convening long-term, focused international dialogues between leaders from the U.S. and Muslim societies.

Conference Highlights New Moment, Continuing Challenges

On June 26, 2009, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project hosted a conference on Business Opportunities in the Muslim World. Keynote speakers included Dan Christman, Jay Collins, Anwar bin Ibrahim, and Vin Weber. Close to 200 people registered for the conference, coming from the public and private sectors, the U.S. and Muslim countries abroad.  The conference took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hall of Flags, Washington, DC.  More information about the conference, including the conference program, speakers and goals, is available here. View the conference webcast here.