American Business Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cara Nazari

Company Name: American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates

Tel: 04.349.1414

Email: director@abcdubai.com

Website: www.abcdubai.com

American Business Council Hosts Inaugural IDEAS Business Forum

DUBAI – NOVEMBER 25, 2012

The American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates joined business leaders from the U.S.

and the U.A.E. to discuss important business issues and solutions at the inaugural IDEAS Business Forum

on Monday, November 19, 2012 at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai. The event was sponsored by Dyncorp

International and Yahoo! Maktoob, with support from Hult International Business School, International

Herald Tribune and Khaleej Times.

Hosted and organized by the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates (the

“American Business Council”), a chapter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the forum highlighted the

ongoing Economic Policy Dialogue between the U.S. and the U.A.E, which served as the inspiration for

the IDEAS Business Forum. The forum featured a C-level panel of experts who discussed how challenges

to the U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral trade relationship have been overcome over the years to generate today’s

strong and growing bilateral trade figures, and sector-specific roundtables focused on identifying

challenges facing particular sectors and harnessing potential synergies going forward. The roundtables

were facilitated by industry leaders and included participants from banking and finance, education, health,

hospitality, infrastructure, oil and gas, professional services, technology and small to medium enterprise

industry sectors.

A major highlight of the forum was the C-level panel of experts discussion moderated by John Podgore,

President of the American Business Council, with participation from David Harris – Director of Logistics

Investment Support for the Department of Economic Development, Jeffrey Johnson – Middle East

President of Boeing, Thaddeus Malesa – Senior Executive at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce &

Industry, Thomas Murray – Chief Executive Officer of American Hospital Dubai, and Ahmed Nassef –

Middle East Vice President/Managing Director of Yahoo! Maktoob.

American Business Council President John Podgore kicked off the C-level panel discussion (regarding

challenges to the bilateral trade relationship that have been overcome) by saying “You may ask why I am

so certain that we have something to discuss here and that we can identify challenges that have been

overcome. As we say back home ‘the proof is in the pudding’; trade figures such as those between the

U.S. and the U.A.E. are not the product of a relationship that is facing significant challenges.” U.S.

Department of Commerce data indicate that exports of U.S. goods to the UAE have increased 48% during

January-August 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, and that exports of UAE goods to the U.S.

during January-August 2012 track the same period in 2011 (which is still good news, as UAE exports to

the U.S. more than doubled between 2010 and 2011).

According to Dr. Merwyn Strate, Dean, Hult International Business School,

"On behalf of the graduate business students, it was a truly fabulous opportunity to be invited to be active

participants in the business forum sponsored by the American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern

Emirates. Improving the growth and ease of doing business between the United Arab Emirates and the

United States of America will be a definite outcome of this forum and continued efforts in the future."

The keynote address was delivered by U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the Honorable

Michael Corbin, and the U.S. Consul General in Dubai, the Honorable Robert Waller was among those

present.

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 the Dubai Chapter of the U. S. Chamber of

Commerce and Industry. 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 600 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, round-table discussions, and business networking

opportunities. The American Business Council is the voice of American (and America-inspired) business

in Dubai & the Northern Emirates.

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