Chambers of Commerce Host U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in Abu Dhabi as Part of Her Trade Mission to the U.A.E.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (PRWEB) March 09, 2014 -- The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, AmCham Abu Dhabi, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council co-hosted an exclusive business event featuring a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel, Nation Towers. Over 400 top business executives, senior U.A.E. Government officials, U.S. Embassy officials, and media attended the on-the-record event. VIPs included H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry; H.E. Khalfan Saeed Al Kaabi, First Vice Chairman, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry; and Victor Hurtado, Chargé D’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi.
Secretary Pritzker is leading an Infrastructure trade mission of 21 U.S. firms looking for export opportunities in the U.A.E. This is the first visit of a sitting U.S. Secretary of Commerce with an accompanying trade mission to the Gulf region in 15 years. The mission highlights infrastructure export opportunities for U.S. businesses with an emphasis on project management and engineering (construction, architecture and design), clean and renewable energy (solar, wind, waste-to-energy), smart grid and energy efficiency, and environmental technologies (water/wastewater, air pollution control, and waste management).
“I am so pleased to be joined on this trade mission by 21 U.S. firms that are eager to partner with government and industry in Abu Dhabi,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “The United States and our businesses truly value our strong commercial and economic ties with the Gulf region, and recognize that working together is a win-win. American companies have the expertise to help the U.A.E. achieve its vision of becoming an even more powerful global hub for business. And when U.S. firms sell their goods and services to new markets, the American economy stands to gain. I hope this trade mission will lead to many more mutually-beneficial relationships between our two nations.”
U.S. Commerce Secretary Pritzker delivered her keynote address following opening remarks by co-hosts Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman, H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Al Rumaithi, AmCham Abu Dhabi Chairman Matthew E. Byrd, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and COO, David Chavern and U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President, Danny Sebright.
“AmCham Abu Dhabi is honored to host Secretary Pritzker and members of her business delegation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The timing of the visit is superb, as Abu Dhabi is growing and a great place for American business to focus their efforts locally and regionally,” said Matthew E. Byrd, Chairman of AmCham Abu Dhabi. “Secretary Pritzker’s agenda for increased global trade relations highlights the importance of U.S.- U.A.E. trade, which totaled a record of $26.9 billion in 2013.”
His Excellency Mohammed Thani Murshid Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, emphasized the vitality and importance of the exceptional and strategic bilateral relations between the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United States, noting “Abu Dhabi’s unique standing in the regional business environment and the U.A.E.’s friendly ties with the U.S. provide us with a strong footing to build a solid economic partnership.”
His Excellency stated, “The visit of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the U.A.E. is a good opportunity to maintain this excellent bilateral cooperation. We believe that both our economies have the strength to forge many more long-term cooperation relations that help us achieve more in terms of trade and development.”
David Chavern, Executive Vice President and COO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce commented, “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce values U.S.-U.A.E. trade and investment, and we are here because we want to both celebrate our bilateral relationship, and explore how we can take it to new heights. It is so important that leaders in the business communities and governments of both our countries work together to advance commercial and strategic partnerships. We look forward to continued collaboration with U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and our partner organizations here in the U.A.E. to achieve our shared goals.”
“Secretary Pritzker’s visit to both Abu Dhabi and Dubai during her inaugural trip to the Middle East provides a clear indication that the U.S. Administration views commercial ties between the U.S. and the U.A.E. as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship,” said Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.- U.A.E Business Council. “With the planned visit of President Obama to the region later this month, the U.S. is clearly committed to strengthening and deepening our already close ties.”
In her remarks, U.S. Commerce Secretary Pritzker, highlighted the capacity of U.S. companies to help the U.A.E. meets its ambitious infrastructure investment goals.
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About the U.S. Trade Mission to the Middle East:
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is leading a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar taking place March 8-14, 2014. The mission highlights infrastructure export opportunities for U.S. businesses with an emphasis on project management and engineering (construction, architecture and design), renewable energy (solar, wind, waste-to-energy), smart grid and energy efficiency, and environmental technologies (water/wastewater; air pollution control; and waste management). This mission advances President Obama’s National Export Initiative. Below, are the names of 21 U.S.-based companies that have joined Secretary Pritzker on the mission.
• AECOM Technology Corporation (Los Angeles, CA)
• AREVA Solar Inc. (Santa Clara, CA)
• C3 Energy (Redwood City, CA)
• ECC International, LLC (Burlingame, CA)
• First Solar (Tempe, AZ)
• General Electric Company (Fairfield, CT)
• Ghafari Associates, LLC (Dearborn, MI)
• Greeley and Hansen, LLC (Chicago, IL)
• Headworks International Inc. (Houston, TX)
• Innovari, Inc. (Austin, TX)
• Michael Baker International, LLC (Moon Township, PA)
• Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects LLP (New York, NY)
• Rapiscan Systems (Torrance, CA)
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (Chicago, IL)
• SolarReserve (Santa Monica, CA)
• STV Incorporated (New York, NY)
• the digit group, inc. (Collierville, TN)
• The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI)
• Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. (New York, NY)
• Universal Acoustics & Emissions Technology (Stoughton, WI)
• Zero Waste Energy, LLC (Lafayette, CA)
For more information, visit: http://commerce.gov/blog.
About the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Abu Dhabi Chamber):
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry is an autonomous institution of public interest. Abu Dhabi Chamber enjoys its own legal entity to represent the various productive and services activities of the private sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Since its inception in 1969, Abu Dhabi Chamber has been working and co-operating with the Government and partners towards streamlining and regulating business and industrial affairs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, developing such affairs through the Chamber’s basic duties and strategic initiatives. The Abu Dhabi Chamber is striving to establish itself as a leading policy advocate in the Emirate in its capacity as the private sector’s partner and center for information. Abu Dhabi Chamber is the leading voice for the Emirate’s business community and one that is effectively networking with concerned public and private entities. The Chamber plays a major role as a supporter of and contributor to the economic development process, as well as an economic partner in contributing to Abu Dhabi’s economic growth. For more information, visit: http://www.abudhabichamber.ae.
About AmCham Abu Dhabi:
AmCham Abu Dhabi (the trademark of the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi) is a member of the global network of American Chambers of Commerce. The AmCham Abu Dhabi mission is to promote commerce, investment and goodwill between the United States of America, the membership, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. AmCham Abu Dhabi is an independent, not-for-profit association comprised of Fortune 500 corporations, small and medium sized companies and prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. AmCham Abu Dhabi provides a uniquely situated platform through which executives pursue and discuss issues impacting business operations between the U.S. and U.A.E. Substantive government advocacy programs, educational and networking programs and customized business service are just a few of the many benefits AmCham Abu Dhabi provides its members. Through the support of its members, AmCham Abu Dhabi has become the recognized voice of U.S. business in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. For more information, visit: http://www.amchamabudhabi.org.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Our members range from mom-and-pop shops and to leading industry associations and large corporations. They all share one thing in common—they count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, D.C. and nations around the globe. Through its International Division, the U.S. Chamber leads the business community’s efforts to shape global policy by advocating for free enterprise, competitive markets, and rules-based trade and investment. The U.S. Chamber’s Turkey & Middle East Affairs department is focused on both helping expand access for American companies in growing markets in the Middle East and attracting inward investment into the U.S. Through our affiliate organization, AmCham Abu Dhabi, and relationships with other key stakeholders, the U.S. Chamber is increasingly focused on strengthening and growing the bilateral economic relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States by supporting and promoting initiatives, policies and programs designed to increase investment and commercial activity between our nations. For further information, visit: http://www.uschamber.com.
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 U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council provides its diverse membership unparalleled access to senior decision makers in business and government in the U.A.E. and in the U.S. 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. For more information, visit: http://www.usuaebusiness.org.
Brian Principato, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, 2028637288, [email protected]
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