The Arab-American Business and Professional Association (ABPA), the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago (ITAGC), and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a luncheon and discussion in honor of a visiting senior delegation from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI) at the W Lakeshore Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.  High-ranking officials from the delegation, led by His Excellency Mohammed Thani Al Romaithi, Chairman of ADCCI, sat on a panel and spoke to the commercial viability of foreign partnership and investment in Abu Dhabi, and in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) in general and how the chamber facilitates these relationships. The event attracted senior government officials and business executives from the U.A.E. and the United States.

Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council welcomed the delegation on behalf the host organizations and underscored the significance of their visit to the advancement of the U.S.-U.A.E. trade and investment relationship. In his comments, Sebright noted the importance of extending the scope of engagement between Americans and the Emiratis and applauded Saud Al Nowais, Commercial Counselor at the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, and his team for their support and championing of the initiative. Following Sebright’s opening words, Talat Othman, President of ABPA, and Richard Paullin, Executive Director of ITAGC, provided additional welcome remarks. Othman and Paullin emphasized the important role Chicago plays in supporting the sustainability and resurgence of both the U.S. and global economy. Further, they spoke about the close ties between the cities of Chicago and Abu Dhabi.

Following the welcome remarks and after an introduction, Chairman Al Romaithi delivered words of gratitude on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Chamber to local public and private sector representatives in attendance for their hospitality and insight into potential market opportunities ripe for foreign partnership and investment.  He then turned the floor over to Abdul Jabbar Al Sayegh, Board Member of ADCCI, to talk about the work the chamber does in Abu Dhabi to promote and encourage the development of the local economy and raise the profile of the emirate internationally.

Once Al Sayegh completed his briefing, the floor was opened for a question and answer session with the entire panel of ADCCI Board Members representing Abu Dhabi industry.  During the session, guests were given the opportunity to engage directly with senior private sector decision-makers from Abu Dhabi and discuss issues of mutual concern and interest.  Topics discussed included the trade and investment climate in Abu Dhabi, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, areas of interest to Emirati companies looking to invest in the U.S. and U.S. companies looking to invest in the U.A.E., and the regulatory landscape governing Abu Dhabi’s private sector.

The luncheon program ended after the question session, marking the end of a weeklong trade mission that brought the Abu Dhabi delegation to Washington, D.C., Houston, Texas, and Chicago.  Throughout the mission, the delegation attended high-level meetings with American government and industry elites, policy and networking events held in their honor, and private dinners with C-suite executives from prominent American companies. The trade mission was supported by the Embassy of the U.A.E. in Washington, D.C.’s Trade and Commercial Office.

His Excellency Mohammed Thani Al Romaithi, Chairman of ADCCI, and senior members of the Abu Dhabi delegation discuss parntership and investment opportunities with industry representatives in Chicago