The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted Dao Le, the newly appointed Senior Commercial Officer (SCO) for the Gulf to the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, for a policy breakfast and discussion on Thursday morning.  The breakfast event provided public and private sector stakeholders with an opportunity to learn first-hand the variable successes and challenges within the U.S.-U.A.E. commercial relationship.  The event featured a brief introduction by U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President, Danny Sebright, who congratulated Le on his appointment.

Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Gulf Dao M. Le & President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Danny E. Sebright

Following Sebright’s introduction, SCO Le briefly highlighted past areas of success during his most recent post in Kuwait before discussing what he hopes to achieve in Abu Dhabi, including areas of improvement in the U.S.-U.A.E. trade relationship and upcoming challenges he will face as the regional SCO.

Commenting on his appointment, Le said, “I’m excited about the opportunity to work in and with America’s largest export market in the Middle East.  The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is a dynamic organization keenly focused on building business bridges between Americans and Emiratis, and I look forward to collaborating with the Council’s members throughout the United States and the U.A.E. and the Gulf in the weeks and months ahead.”

Before closing his remarks, Mr. Le provided further insight on regional developments in the Gulf and the broader Middle East and how that will affect commercial trade within the region.

Following the remarks, Sebright opened the floor to a Q&A session, during which time stakeholders in the room were given the opportunity to engage SCO Le on the many challenges facing U.S. businesses in the Gulf, including the changing dynamics within the U.A.E. business community pending removal of Iranian sanctions.

For your information, Dao Le’s biography can be found below.

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Dao M. Le
Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Gulf
U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi –United Arab Emirates

Since 1994, Mr. Dao M. Le has served with the US Department of Commerce in assignments of increasing responsibility in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and United States.

He is currently America’s regional senior commercial officer for the Gulf and Commercial Counselor at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In his role as Regional Senior Commercial Officer, Mr. Le oversees commercial operations in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, in addition to UAE operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

His previous tours include: Kuwait City; Baghdad; Doha; Saigon; Singapore; Cincinnati; New Delhi; Monterey; Hanoi; and Washington, DC.

Mr. Le is a recipient of Commerce Department’s Supervisor of the Year Award, Innovation Award, Bronze Medal, and Quarterly Star, as well as State Department’s Superior Honor Award and Meritorious Honor Award.

Previously, he taught international trade at Carnegie Mellon University, the Graduate School of Commercial Diplomacy, and Wright State University.

An honors graduate, he has an MA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BS from Santa Clara University.