WASHINGTON, D.C. —During a policy lunch hosted by the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council today, the U.A.E. Embassy Commercial Counselor Saud Al-Nowais announced the opening of the new Embassy Trade Office in September 2009.

Al Nowais mapped out his strategy for the trade office, explaining that it will have nine staff members who will fan out to focus on energy, banking, defense, infrastructure, and education.  He also explained the commercial benefits of the U.S.-U.A.E. Civil Nuclear Energy 123 Agreement and separately, the multi-billion dollar Masdar green energy initiative.

The event is part of the council’s effort to provide value to our members by promoting commercial ties and the bilateral trade relationship between the U.S. and the U.A.E.,” said Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council. Today’s event attracted more than 100 business executives and political leaders, including the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, Holly Vineyard.

The policy luncheon comes amid a wave of recent developments in the U.S.-U.A.E. relationship.  Yesterday, the Business Council hosted a briefing in Abu Dhabi with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in his first trip to the Middle East since becoming Secretary.  The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the 123 Agreement which resulted in Chairman Howard Berman and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry authoring joint resolutions of approval of the agreement.

The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.