Special Features
Dynamics Of US-UAE Trade And Diplomatic Relationship Examined At Dubai School Of Government Seminar
The US shares a strategic trade partnership with the UAE, which is the largest export destination for American goods in the Middle East. The current environment is mutually conducive to nurturing a more symbiotic relationship between the two nations, according to Danny E. Sebright, President, US-UAE Business Council, the leading advocate for building commercial relationships and expanding business opportunities between the two countries.Sebright’s comments came during a seminar hosted by Dubai School of Government (DSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world. Titled ‘The US-UAE Trade and Commercial Relationship: A Positive Diplomatic Trend’, the event attracted decision makers and senior management executives from the government and private sector.
“There is an increased global focus on trade and commerce between nations today, which directly stimulates diplomacy and economic development. The rich partnership shared by the US and the UAE, built on a foundation supported by the strong defense and security relationship, can further pave the way for innovations and new solutions that can enhance the multi-dimensional, robust relationship that the two nations enjoy.
“Platforms provided through bodies such as the Dubai School of Government foster an exchange of ideas that contribute to building sustained respect and dialogue. The public and private sectors of both countries are becoming more aware of the relationship’s commercial potential, and are actively working to ensure that the UAE continues to remain one of the largest export markets for US goods and services,” Sebright said.
He additionally highlighted the potential of US firms and institutions to provide leadership development, training, and education opportunities to future generations of Emirati leaders in order build a sustainable local workforce.
The third state to establish formal diplomatic relations with the UAE shortly after its formation in 1971, the US is one of the UAE’s earliest and most valued international partners. Today, the UAE is home to more than 30,000 Americans and over 750 American-owned businesses, as estimated by the US embassy. According to the US Ministry of Foreign Trade, the UAE was the 21st largest export market for the US globally in 2010.
Danny E. Sebright is a strategic consultant reputed for arbitrating peace processes between nations since 1995. He began his career in government in 1985 with the Defense Intelligence Agency, living and working extensively overseas in numerous countries in the Middle East, India, Asia, and Africa. He is the recipient of the Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Policy for his work on the Middle East Peace Process. In 2008, he was appointed President of the US-UAE Business Council.
Sebright completed a mid-career master’s degree in Public Administration in 2001 at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has also earned his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University.
Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge and the dissemination of global best practices in the Arab world. The institution conducts various programs that seek to enhance the region’s capacity for effective public policy.
For more details, visit www.dsg.ae or call 04 329 3290.
