Bilateral U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce brings Mayor of Houston, Texas (USA)
EASTERN PROVINCE, Saudi Arabia - Sunday, November 11th 2012 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dozens of American business leaders joined Annise Parker, the Honorable Mayor of the City of Houston, in Saudi Arabia yesterday. The visit was organized by the Bilateral U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce to explore business opportunities, partnerships and trade with Saudi companies and suppliers, and to promote Houston as a premier business center of the U.S. for energy, life sciences, aerospace, engineering and technology.
The group of 37 began the trip with a breakfast briefing hosted by the American Business Council and the U.S. Consulate. The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Tom Williams affirmed, "Having visits like this are of critical importance. Not only are they important for enhancing understanding between our regions but they actually result in business." David Cantrell from the American Business Council and Nasir Abbasi the U.S. Commercial Counselor also briefed the delegates on how to access the lucrative opportunities in Saudi Arabia by stressing the importance of having a presence in country and finding the right local partner.
The delegation's next meeting was at Saudi Aramco. His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, president and CEO of ARAMCO and his executive leadership team, briefed the Mayor on their investments in technology and their strategic role as a corporate citizen both in the Kingdom and in Houston where they have had an office since 1974. "The Mayor was particularly pleased when Mr Al-Falih informed her that Aramco is launching a technology center in Houston in 2013 which will attract and employ over 100 scientists as well as additional support staff to maintain the operation," said Aida Araissi, President Bilateral Chamber.
The day continued on that positive note at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce where over 100 business leaders, including some from the largest holding companies in Saudi Arabia, gathered at a reception and luncheon in honor of the delegation. "We value very much our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the courtesies extended to us and our business delegation," said Mayor Parker. "The City of Houston is built on international trade and we are committed to growing those opportunities."
The delegates and Mayor departed Saudi Arabia to continue the GCC trade mission with three days in the UAE before ending the visit in Qatar.
The Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce is an exclusive membership-based network of international business leadership that establishes strategic connections between the United States and Middle East/North Africa (MENA) to foster economic growth, educational advancement and cultural understanding. Founded in 1997 by Aida Araissi, the Bilateral Chamber creates access, strategic options and positive results for its members by facilitating relationships with key decision-makers, helping to navigate through the complex field of international trade, and producing effective programming including trade missions, speaker’s series, and educational exchange initiatives. Headquartered in Houston, Texas (USA), the not-for-profit Bilateral Chamber membership includes Fortune 500 companies, private sector enterprises, thought leaders, and academic institutions from a wide range of industry sectors across the US and MENA regions. For more information about the Bilateral Chamber, visit us at http://www.bilateralchamber.org.
Photos available at: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B6U-ot4h9pS1cUM2MTN4RUphdEU/edit
Contacts
for Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Iana Dealey, 1+919.538.1511
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