Middle East & Africa Business Outlook Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Goodnight Company Name: American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates Tel: 04.379.1414 Email: communications@abcdubai.com Website: www.abcdubai.com

Middle East & Africa Business Outlook Conference hosted by the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates, the U.S. Commercial Service - Department of Commerce, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council Dubai – May 27, 2015 The American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates (ABC Dubai) along with the U.S. Commercial Service - Department of Commerce, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council cohosted the first Middle East & Africa Business Outlook Conference on May 27-28 in Dubai. The sold-out conference attracted more than 300 influential government officials and key business decision makers from across Africa, the Middle East, and the U.S. The business opportunities this region has to offer are plentiful, and the level of engagement was certainly reflected at this conference. The conference highlighted the importance of maximizing the unique prospects available to U.S. companies operating in the area and to those utilizing Dubai as a business gateway to the region. Additionally, over 20 Senior U.S. Commercial Attachés and Specialists were available for the more than 400 one-on-one meetings that took place. Nasir Abbasi, Commercial Attaché, U.S. Consulate General Dubai stated, “This certainly takes the seminar to the next level. By hosting personal meetings, participants were able to focus on identifying specific challenges facing their particular sectors and harnessing potential synergies going forward.”

UAE leaders and US dignitaries attending the Middle East & Africa Business Outlook Conference.

Ramsey Jurdi, President of the American Business Council and Chadbourne & Parke International Partner stated: “As President of the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates, I am a witness to the tremendous growth potential the region provides, and we at the Council strive to support the economy with innovative programs such as this one. The recent upgrade in the competitiveness ranking of the U.A.E. in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report from 19 to 12 is no surprise to me or the many American businesses that have chosen Dubai and the U.A.E. as their hub. With U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral trade outpacing much larger economies for the 6th year in a row, the U.A.E. has a proven infrastructure, macroeconomic stability and capable workforce propelling its support of regional growth. The U.A.E. offers American businesses a fantastic platform to expand regionally and into Africa. ABC Dubai is primed and ready to support you in your endeavors, and I encourage you to consider the ABC team your “boots on the ground” experts in relation to Dubai as your regional business hub.”

Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai: “The Middle East and Africa Business Outlook Conference is a strategic platform for Dubai FDI to engage with U.S. businesses and investors,

who we consider critical to Dubai’s strategy for attracting investment into innovative and knowledge-based industries. For U.S. companies looking to step beyond their conventional markets and set up shop in the most promising territories, there is no better hub than Dubai as the city provides one of the most competitive logistics infrastructure and the best link to a vast consumer market of over 2.2 billion people living in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Subcontinent.”

Engineer Saad Al Awadi, CEO, Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai: “Dubai’s infrastructure development and policies have always sought to reinforce the city’s pre-eminence as a trading hub, specifically exports and reexports hub. Various U.S. products and services are currently being distributed in the Middle East and Africa through Dubai and Dubai Exports is looking at the Middle East and Africa Business Outlook Conference as an opportunity to demonstrate our successful efforts in enabling local exporters expand their footprint to new markets.”

“The Middle East and Africa Business Outlook Conference is one of the best ways for public and private sector stakeholders to explore industry insights and learn about the realities of doing business in this region,” said Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council. “In organizing this conference, the U.S. Commercial Service has provided a rare opportunity for these stakeholders to further develop and expand their businesses by connecting with senior U.S. government trade officials and diplomats with access to and expertise in over 19 of these critical developing markets.”

The partnership created in presenting this conference will allow U.S. businesses to continue growing in the region and to strengthen their relationship with the U.A.E..

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL The American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates operates under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and functions as a Chapter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since its founding in 1985, the American Business Council has supported U.S. business interests in Dubai & the Northern Emirates and acts as a liaison between government and commercial enterprises.

The American Business Council is a 500 plus member-driven organization. Fortune 500 companies and key business leaders are well represented among the members of the American Business Council. The American Business Council provides a forum for understanding and interaction between the local business community and members of the American Business Council. Members are supported through a robust calendar of informational programs, roundtable discussions, and business networking opportunities.

For more information about the American Business Council and to learn how members are engaged, visit us at www.abcdubai.com.

ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE – INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 72 countries worldwide. ITA strengthens the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. ITA works to improve the global business environment and helps U.S. organizations compete at home and abroad. More information is available at www.trade.gov.

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.

Website: http://www.usuaebusiness.org

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