The U.A.E. Consul General in Boston, His Excellency Salem Alshamsi, and Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, jointly hosted a roundtable luncheon in Boston honoring a visiting trade delegation from Sharjah on Tuesday, September 25th.
His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Government Relations, led the delegation, which included senior representatives from the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), The University of Sharjah, The American University of Sharjah and Bee’ah.
Attendees were welcomed by Mr. Sebright, with opening remarks provided by H.E. Alshamsi, who highlighted the significance of the visit, stating, “We are delighted to host the first delegation from Sharjah to Boston headed by H.E. Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi. This high-level delegation is here to explore Boston’s ecosystem and its unique opportunities for international collaboration. Just think about the outcome of potential ties between Sharjah, the hub for education in the U.A.E., and Boston, one of the smartest and most innovative cities in the world.”
From L to R: His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, U.A.E. Consul General to Boston, with His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Government Relations, and Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
H.E. Alshamsi continued, “I see partnerships to boost innovation and STEM education for future generations. We look forward to strengthening the U.A.E.’s relationship with the states covered by the Consulate General in Boston in key growth sectors, such as education, clean tech, robotics and advanced manufacturing.”
H.E. Alshamsi then introduced Sheikh Al Qasimi to the assembled guests, comprised of senior representatives of many of the region’s premier corporate and nonprofit institutions. Commenting on the delegation, Sheikh Al Qasimi noted, “We look forward to building bridges between Boston and our students, cultural institutions, and entrepreneurs going forward”.
The luncheon promoted an array of new investment and partnership opportunities for U.S.-based organizations in the education, healthcare & life sciences, cultural, and technology sectors. Remarking on the decision to visit Boston, Sheikh Al Qasimi stated, “The long-standing political and economic relationship between The United States of America and The United Arab Emirates is something that we are celebrating today. This bilateral relationship is important to Sharjah, and we aim to continue to highlight the important opportunities that exist in investment between our two cities.”
Following Sheikh Al Qasimi, H.E. Mohammed Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office took to the floor to provide a detailed overview of Sharjah and its strategic priorities.
Concluding the luncheon, Business Council President Danny Sebright remarked, “The number of world-renowned businesses, universities, and cultural institutions gathered in this room is a testament both to Sharjah’s commitment to expanding relationships in key verticals, and value-add as a strategic partner.”
