The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, with support from the AmCham Abu Dhabi, AmCham Dubai, and U.S.-Egypt Business Council, hosted a roundtable luncheon discussion today in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services James M. Sullivan and his team.

During this private off-the-record event, company representatives shared viewpoints about data privacy and localization in the U.A.E. and Egypt with DAS Sullivan, who will be traveling to these two countries from 19 to 23 January.
 

From L to R: Danny Sebright, President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council; James M. Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Steve Lutes, Executive Director, U.S.-Egypt Business Council

After brief introductions, DAS Sullivan detailed the goals and objectives of his upcoming visits to the U.A.E. and Egypt. This was followed by a robust discussion with industry about evolving data privacy and localization regulations in both countries. This wide-ranging conversation covered a wide variety of topics from data privacy standards, to fintech and blockchain, to U.S. competition in these sectors with China.  DAS Sullivan’s trip agenda and today’s discussion are meant to help inform U.S. positions and business advocacy vis-à-vis U.A.E. deliberations and next steps related to a new data privacy and localization law that currently is in draft in the U.A.E.

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright and Steve Lutes thanked DAS Sullivan for taking the time to engage with industry and serving as their advocate on these important matters.

As Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, DAS Sullivan directs the U.S. Department of Commerce’s efforts to strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S. services firms, which account for 80 percent of the nation’s private sector economy. His primary areas of focus include the financial, digital and internet, supply chain, and professional and business services industries.