(New York, New York) — A senior corporate delegation representing the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is in the United States this week for a five-city trade mission across the country. The U.S. Consulate in Dubai is leading the mission, which began today in New York City with a luncheon in honor of the delegation at the Essex House hotel. The event brought together more than 200 senior government officials, private sector executives, and key stakeholders from the U.S. and U.A.E., and it featured a panel discussion on the business climate in the Northern Emirates with senior Emirati industry representatives. U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez made opening remarks.
Emirati executives on the panel included: H.E. Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmad Al Maktoum— a member of the Dubai royal family; Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of Operational Development at Dubai World Central; and Salah Sharaf, Executive Director of Sharaf Group— a Dubai-based conglomerate with companies specializing in information technology, shipping, retail, real estate, financial services, consumer products, travel and tourism, and construction. The U.A.E. business representatives were joined on the panel by Under Secretary Sánchez, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai Robert Bannerman, Commercial Counselor at the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C.’s Trade & Commercial Office Saud Al Nowais, President of the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates John Podgore, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce David Hamod, and President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Danny Sebright.
Panelists from Left to Right: John Podgore, President of ABC Dubai; Robert Bannerman, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai; Salah Sharaf, Executive Director of Sharaf Group; Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of Operational Development at Dubai World Central; Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmad Al Maktoum; Saud Al Nowais, Commercial Counselor at the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C.; Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council; and David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Following a welcome and introduction from Hamod and Sebright, Under Secretary Sánchez provided remarks underlining the viability and strength of the U.S.-U.A.E. economic relationship and encouraging American companies in the room to meet and discuss potential partnerships with their counterparts from emirates that are taking part in this delegation (Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah).
U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez (center) with Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmad Al Maktoum (left), and Saud Al Nowais, Commercial Counselor at the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C. (right)
“The partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates is defined by progress and potential. Every day, American businesses export products and services that are helping to fuel economic growth in the U.A.E, benefiting the people and economies of both countries,” said Sánchez. “I am honored to participate in this unique gathering of leaders from the public and private sectors, all of whom have come together with two important goals: expanding opportunity and building for the future. Together, we can ensure that the U.S.-U.A.E. partnership continues to advance mutual interests.”
After Sánchez’s comments, Bannerman addressed the New York City audience, underscoring the trade mission’s value proposition to American and Emirati businesses.
Robert Bannerman, Principal Commercial Officer at U.S. Consulate in Dubai and Road Show organizer, presents the trade mission’s value proposition to American and Emirati businesses.
“The U.S.-U.A.E. economic partnership is a key component of the overall diplomatic relationship between the two countries,” said Bannerman. “The ‘Dubai & the Northern Emirates- USA Roadshow’ and trade missions like it are vital to the promotion and expansion of U.S.-U.A.E. commercial ties.”
During the panel discussion that followed, Emirati executives expressed the importance of the U.S. trip to raise the profile of business opportunities in the Northern Emirates and to boost trade partnerships between the two countries.
Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmad Al Maktoum, discusses the business environment in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as well as the United Arab Emirates as a whole.
“Today, our delegation has a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the open and transparent corporate climate in the Northern Emirates and the broader U.A.E.,” said Al Gurg. “My fellow delegates and I are honored to be here in New York City and look forward to advancing connections and partnerships formed throughout our trip to the United States.”
“The U.S. and the U.A.E. share many of the same economic goals for the future, including building a sustainable economy supported by world-class infrastructure,” said Al Awadhi. “With solid partnerships formed previously and during this trip with American companies and others around the world, I am confident that Dubai and the broader U.A.E. will continue to be on the forefront of infrastructure innovation in the Middle East.”
“Our delegation represents businesses across several sectors important to the economic growth of both the U.S. and U.A.E.,” said Sharaf. “Moreover, this trade mission will provide our businesses from the Northern Emirates with excellent exposure to both public and private sector decision-makers and to potential American business partners in key markets around the United States.”
After the panelists introduced themselves and their business interests, the floor was opened for discussion between the panelists and guests.
“It is important — now more than ever — for America and our partner countries in the Arab world to highlight the strength and vast potential of bilateral economic relationships underpinning U.S.-Arab relations,” said Hamod following the event. “It was evident today that the U.A.E. is getting its message across exceptionally well, setting a high standard for the rest of the region.”
“Today’s lunch and the entire trade mission program will contribute to informing key audiences in global markets around the U.S. about potential commercial opportunities in the Northern Emirates,” added Sebright. “New partnerships formed during these two weeks have the potential to fuel economic growth and create new jobs.”
The ‘Dubai & the Northern Emirates – USA Roadshow’ is organized by the Commercial Service at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai in partnership with the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and supported by the Trade & Commercial Office at the Embassy of the U.A.E. in Washington, D.C. After New York, the delegation will travel to Atlantic City, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Dallas/Fort Worth before returning to the United Arab Emirates.
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About the U.S. Commercial Service:
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.
Website: www.trade.gov/cs
About the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce:
The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), established over 40 years ago, is America’s longest serving organization dedicated to U.S.-Arab business. NUSACC is widely regarded as the voice of American business in the Arab world and the premier private sector portal to the United States for Arab commercial enterprises.
The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce is the only business entity in the United States that is officially recognized and sanctioned by the League of Arab States and the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture. As such, NUSACC is a “sister chamber” and partner to the national chambers of commerce throughout the Arab world.
With offices in New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and its headquarters in Washington DC, NUSACC is the only chamber of its kind to provide “coast-to-coast” service. This nationwide coverage means that NUSACC is well positioned to serve its members in all 50 States and to provide outreach capabilities to all of America’s major markets.
Website: www.nusacc.org
About the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council:
The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is a progressive business advocacy organization solely committed to the advancement of the trade and commercial relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The Business Council actively works to ensure that the U.S. and U.A.E. remain attractive destinations for foreign direct investment by conducting effective policy advocacy, undertaking various trade promotion initiatives, providing ongoing updates on the business climate in both countries, and helping develop strategic relationships between U.S. and U.A.E. business and government officials.
Website: www.usuaebusiness.org
