Arab businesses seek minority status
from Bush
Detroit’s Arab American and Chaldean communities
want minority status from the Federal Government and an
end to “discrimination and regulatory red tape”,
they claim is stifiing business since 9-11. This was the
message put to a senior Bush administration official,
Ronald Langston, at the first Arab American and Chaldean
Council (ACC) business summit held at the council’s
head office on 111, West Seven Mile Road.
Langston, who heads the Minority Business Development
Agency at the U.S. Dept., of Commerce, stopped at the
summit as part of several planned trips to educate minority
businesses about MBDA’s work. “The Arab American
and Chaldean communities have been productive contributors
to our society. Yet still they have the same barriers
[language and culture] commonplace to the other minority
groups that have been granted such status,” said
Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, ACC President.
“This community has so much potential, and in order
to accelerate their progress, they must be given the same
opportunities afforded to other minorities.” Haifa
and her group believe people of Middle Eastern descent
have been subjected to all forms of discrimination that
affect their ability to do business as usual in Detroit.
“Our community has been unfairly targeted and many
of their rights and privileges have affected standard
business practices,” Haifa said. “It is important
to identify the barriers this community is facing and
to implement remedies that will ensure continued progress
in business development.”
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