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 stifling 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.”

 Some Detroit Arab business owners complain that people of Arab descent are
 excluded in the U.S. government’s new application form for minority
 status.

 They said the application includes “African American” and “Asian/Pacific”
 categories but not one for “Arab American.”
 People attending the summit said the new definition of who is eligible for
 minority status since 9-11 is one factor impeding growth of their
 businesses.

 “This offers us a loop hole. I want to be recognized as an authentic
 minority and come with an established status,” said Khal Hanna, a Detroit
 businessman.

 “If we are given the opportunity, we can become more competitive.”

 Hanna added, “In this new qualification, it is much easier for us to prove
 hardship since 9-11.” He said the discrimination is evident everywhere,
 including the media.

 “9-11 does have an effect on who we are and how we are treated,” Hanna
 said.

 Responding to their queries, Langston said the reason no mention was made
 of Arab Americans in the application form for minority status was because
 during the census, most of them registered as whites. As a result, he
 said, his office was going with the U.S. Census Bureau’s reports.
 Notwithstanding, Langston said [Arab Americans] fall under the
 Asian/Pacific category.

 “You have to tell us who you are, because most of you who filled the
 Census Bureau form put ‘white,’” Langston said. “There is no bar to you as
 Arab Americans. If you want to apply, you can. We want to work with you.
 If we need to go the Census department to review this we would.”
 According to Langston, minority status is granted to those that are
 economically and socially disadvantaged.

 “Our mission is to help open doors for ethnic and minority businesses that
 have the capacity to operate in the supply chain of major U.S.
 corporations,” Langston said.

 State Sen. Nancy Cassis gave a thumbs-up to the ACC for being “ambitious,
 hardworking and productive.”

 “We only have to look a few miles from here … to Dearborn, a flourishing
 oasis that has rejuvenated an entire area with unique determination and
 entrepreneurial know how,” Cassis said.

 Other speakers included Tarik Dauod, owner of the Al Long Ford dealership;
 Osman Minkara, managing principal for Capital Investment Group; Nabby
 Yono, business entrepreneur; and Ahmad Ezzeddine, assistant dean of Wayne
 State University’s school of business. Brenda L. Schneider, first vice
 president and director of business and development services at Comerica
 Bank, facilitated the summit.

 All speakers agreed in their various presentations that the government
 needs to recognize their invaluable contribution to the overall economy by
 removing the obstacles they encounter in the course of their business
 operations.