U.S. ambassador, Virginia governor highlight importance of business ties with UAE

The American Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi joined the United States-UAE Business Council recently for an exclusive breakfast event for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) American business community. The event brought representatives from both organizations together at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel, where guests were honored with appearances by U.S. Ambassador Barbara Leaf and keynote speaker Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

Top American business executives operating in the UAE mingled with distinguished Emirati guests as well as officials from the U.S. Embassy and top officials from the Virginia state government who accompanied McAuliffe.

Speakers highlighted the importance of the economic partnership between the U.S. and the UAE, which Leaf noting that exports to the UAE last year topped $217 million from the state of Virginia alone.

“Trade missions, such as this one, have been and continue to be an important component of building our bilateral trade and investment relationship and our people-to-people relationship,” Leaf said.“As your companies seek to capitalize on these opportunities, Mission U.A.E. is ready to partner with you.”

A lively question-and-answer time followed presentations from Leaf and McAuliffe, with participants excited to learn more about future programs to bring business relations between the two nations closer.