(Washington, D.C.) — The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States Department of State held their second formal meeting of the U.S.-U.A.E. Economic Policy Dialogue (EPD) on Thursday, September 14th in Washington D.C. The meeting also involved senior representatives from other departments and agencies of both governments.

The official press statement from the U.S. Department of State can be found below and online HERE.

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council held a small dinner on the eve of the EPD meeting in honor of the Emirati delegation from the U.A.E. to facilitate interaction for the government members of the EPD with the business community. Senior government officials and business executives from both countries attended the dinner including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. Michael Corbin, U.A.E. Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs His Excellency Khalid Al Ghaith, U.A.E. Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy His Excellency Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Shihhi, U.A.E. Director for International Relations at the Ministry of Finance His Excellency Majid Omran, and U.A.E. Commercial Counselor to the United States Saud Al Nowais.

(From left to right) Gregory Golden, chairman of AmCham Abu Dhabi; Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council; Jose W. Fernandez, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Business & Economic Affairs; H.E. Khalid Al Ghaith, U.A.E. Assistant Minister of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Shihhi, U.A.E. Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy; Anne Jafery, representative of ABC Dubai; and the Honorable Michael H. Corbin, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E.; at the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council-hosted dinner on September 12th. (photo credit: Nick Khazal Photopraphy)

United States and United Arab Emirates hold Second Economic Policy Dialogue
13 September 2012
Office of the Spokesperson
U.S. Department of State

Today, government representatives from the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met in Washington, D.C. for the 2nd U.S.-UAE Economic Policy Dialogue (EPD). The meeting, led by Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez and UAE Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs HE Khalid Al Ghaith, built upon the inaugural meeting held last March in the UAE. During the first session, both delegations discussed greater cooperation to facilitate increased business and investment between the two nations. The second dialogue expanded on these themes to promote a stronger bilateral economic relationship, including finding innovative ways to enhance the role of the private sector in promoting economic growth.

The EPD serves as a coordinating and convening mechanism and provides a regular forum to focus on a number of new and ongoing initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at deepening economic and commercial ties between the United States and the UAE and will foster economic growth and job creation in both countries.

At the dialogue, officials discussed ways to strengthen the legal environment for businesses, support U.S. and Emirati small and medium enterprises, improve protection of intellectual property rights, and cooperate on development projects in North Africa. As part of their ongoing relationship, the UAE and the United States discussed possible dates for the next EPD, as well as plans for the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which will be held on December 11-12 in Dubai.

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