The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Emirates Group, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council welcomed a visiting delegation from the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI) on Monday, March 13 in Los Angeles, California.  The “Exploring Dubai: The Next Business Frontier” Networking Breakfast served as the official kickoff for Dubai FDI’s roadshow across four U.S. cities over the next two weeks as it looks to establish new ties with U.S. partners and showcase investment opportunities in the Emirate of Dubai. 

A large audience of Los Angeles-based private and public sector stakeholders from across a range of industries participated in an engaging discussion and information session designed to attract U.S. industry and investment to Dubai.

His Excellency Abdulla Alsaboosi, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in L.A., welcomed the delegation to Los Angeles by highlighting the U.A.E.’s position as America’s largest trading partner in the region and singled out the attending Consul Generals from Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait as a testament to GCC cooperation and to the region’s importance to the U.S.

His Excellency Abdulla Alsaboosi, Consul General of the U.A.E. in Los Angeles highlights U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral trade relationship

 The Honorable Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of the Dubai Investment Development Agency, highlighted the opportunities and benefits available to U.S. companies, specifically Los Angeles County-area-based organizations, interested in learning more about setting up a business in Dubai.   Among the many sectors discussed by the delegation were aerospace and aviation, biotech and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics and trade, professional services, and automotive.

From Right to Left: H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of the Dubai Investment Development Agency with Carlos Valderrama, President, Center for Global Trade and Foreign Investment, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

“Despite global headwinds, bilateral trade between our two nations remains on very strong ground, growing to over 25 billion dollars in two-way trade in 2016,” said Mr. Al Gergawi. “Our focus at Dubai FDI remains on integrating knowledge as the chief economic driver, on embracing technology and innovation, and on positioning Dubai as the meeting place for the world.”

Other members of the delegation comprised senior executives from the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Tecom Group, and The Emirates Group.

Upon being introduced by Al Hinton, Advisor to Dubai FDI, Mr. Alexis Serfaty, Vice President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, explained that last year, U.S. exports to the U.A.E. continued to exceed outgoing American products to other key trade partners in the broader region, including Israel, Turkey, and India.  The U.A.E.’s business-friendly environment, in particular Dubai’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, enables the success of niche sectors with special interest to the U.S. This includes aerospace, logistics, tourism, healthcare, and services that are beneficial to U.S. companies looking to expand their businesses into untapped markets.”

Alexis Serfaty, Vice President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council & His Excellency Abdulla Alsaboosi, Consul General of the U.A.E. in Los Angeles with Dubai FDI delegation

The Dubai Investment Development Agency, with the support of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, will continue to tour three other major U.S. cities this month in a bid to attract U.S. investment to the Emirates.  Dubai FDI’s tours of San Diego, Austin, and Miami will engage public and private sector stakeholders over fourteen days with the objective of presenting new and emerging sectors within Dubai’s economic development strategy to U.S. businesses and highlighting the bilateral trade and investment relationship.