New York City, New York – The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), hosted an exclusive working luncheon featuring keynote remarks by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre, on Thursday in New York City. The event, held in conjunction with the Sharjah USA Roadshow, facilitated a working discussion and brought together a diverse group of senior business executives from the New York City metropolitan area with the esteemed members of the delegation from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
BCIU President Peter Tichansky kicked off the lunch by greeting the guests in attendance and offering a formal welcome to New York City to the members of the Sharjah delegation on behalf of his organization. In his opening remarks, Tichansky applauded the delegates for their demonstrable engagement with the American private sector, specifically highlighting the importance of financial and commercial cooperation as a bedrock of the U.S. economy in the midst of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the federal budget crisis. Following Mr. Tichansky’s remarks, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright offered welcome remarks and introduced senior members of the Sharjah delegation, specifically Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, His Excellency Marwan Al Sarkal, the CEO of Shurooq, and the keynote speaker, H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi.
H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi (right) addresses senior members of the Sharjah delegation, led by Shurooq, and guests in attendance during the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and BCIU lunch in New York on Thursday
In his formal remarks, H.E. Al Qassimi emphasized the visiting delegation’s excitement and keenness to forge stronger ties between Sharjah’s commercial entities and American companies of all sizes and representing all sectors. He went on to discuss in-depth the four main sectors of investment being targeted by Sharjah for development — environment, transportation and logistics, travel and tourism, and healthcare — and highlighted Sharjah’s business-friendly corporate climate. H.E. Al Qassimi concluded his remarks by extending a formal invitation to those in attendance to visit Sharjah and experience for themselves not only the historic beauty and culture, but also the potential investment and partnership opportunities in the Emirate.
Following H.E. Al Qassimi’s remarks, multiple members of the delegation were given the opportunity to approach the podium and offer a more in-depth explanation of their respective organization’s mission, operations, and commercial goals in relation to partnership with American firms and businesses. During the session, guests in attendance were given the opportunity to engage the delegation directly and pose questions regarding their respective company’s prospects in Sharjah investment and addressing potential commercial and regulatory challenges faced by American businesses operating within the Emirate.
Danny Sebright concluded the session with remarks emphasizing the unique value proposition offered by Sharjah and the broader U.A.E. as a stable and ripe destination for American business and investment.
“In my 30 years working in the Middle East, I can honestly say that there has never been a better time or opportunity for U.S. businesses to invest in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. The Emiratis have the vision, the resources, and the drive to become a global commercial and business hub,” said Sebright. “The U.S.-U.A.E. investment and commercial partnership supports both economies, creating hundreds of thousands of American and Emirati jobs.”
Organized by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) under the slogan “Sharjah – Promising Opportunities, Global Horizons”, the Roadshow delegation is comprised of more than twenty Sharjah-based corporations, entities, organizations, and government departments taking part in a five-day tour of Washington D.C. and New York City, from the 30th of September to the 4th of October.
The delegation is comprised of representatives from Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC), Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA), the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), Sharjah Department of Public Works (DPW), Sharjah Environment Company (Bee’ah), Sharjah Tatweer Forum, Crescent Petroleum, Crescent Enterprises, Dana Gas, USA Regional Trade Center, the American University of Sharjah (AUS), and the Sharjah Business Women Council.
