Al Habtoor Group Chairman, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor today welcomed a delegation from the US Chamber of Commerce. The delegation included David Chavern, Chief Operating Office and Executive Vice President; Khush Choksy, Vice President, Turkey, Middle East and North Africa Affairs; Steve Lutes, Director, Turkey, Middle East and North Africa Affairs & Director, US-Iraq Business Initiative. Also present from the Al Habtoor Group was Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman and CEO; Paul Rayner, Advisor to the Chairman and Ahmed Al Otaiba, Director and Member of the Board. The meeting took place at the Al Habtoor Group head office on Al Wasl Road on Tuesday March 11, 2014.
Al Habtoor said, “The UAE is well placed for US companies to do business in the region. Not only can investors capitalise on the growth we are experiencing, but we are also the gateway to Asia and Africa - two growth regions.”
The meeting precedes a visit by US President Barack Obama’s to Saudi Arabia later this month, and coincides with a visit by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the UAE this week – which marked the first visit of a sitting US Secretary of Commerce to the region in 15 years. The group is here to drum up investment in the region and highlight infrastructure export opportunities for US businesses with an emphasis on project management and engineering and renewable energy.
“There are endless opportunities for international companies in the UAE and the wider region. This is where the growth is. It is not in the West. Our government has laid out a sustainable plan for the future of our country and many companies around the world can capitalize on our success. I encourage investors to come to the Gulf if they want to reap rewards.” Al Habtoor added.
Later in the year, Al Habtoor, who has strong ties with the US, will visit New York to attend the C3 Summit – where he will receive a Lifetime Achievement award. The C3 summit is dedicated to building new relations, fostering existing partnerships and exchanging best practices between the US and the Middle East.