Paris, France

On June 17th, 2009 the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted H.E. Fahad Ghareeb Al Shamsi, Board Member of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC). Mr. Al Shamsi is also an official with the Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies company.  The Business Council dinner and discussion was held on the margins of the 48th International Paris Air Show. Senior U.S. and U.A.E. business leaders discussed U.S.-U.A.E. aerospace and defense partnerships and the further development of Abu Dhabi’s Airport industry.  ADAC also presented its case for strengthening the civilian aerospace industry in the Al Ain area of Abu Dhabi.

U.S.-U.A.E Business Council President, Danny Sebright introduced the event’s honored guests and led a lively discussion regarding various partnership opportunities.  H.E. Fahad Ghareeb Al Shamsi addressed ADAC’s need for enhanced human capital and expanded energy resources by 2014. His Excellency went on to explain that ADAC has agreed to three Memorandums of Understanding with German companies, in the aircraft electronics and engineering sector as part of the new business concluded at the Paris Air Show.

Mr. Sebright then directed the conversation toward current U.S.-U.A.E. aerospace partnerships. Mubadala and General Electric both Founding members of the Business Council have teamed up to provide maintenance to GE aircraft engines as well as advanced aeronautical structures. Many U.S. company representatives who attended the event were interested in learning from ADAC and Mubadala Aerospace official Homaid al Shemari regarding Abu Dhabi’s key technology pursuits.

The evening concluded with remarks by U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue on the current prospects for recovery in the U.S. economy.