U.S.-ARAB CHAMBER SELECTS OMANI
AS “AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR” H.E.
Hunaina Al-Mughairy, First Arab Woman
Ambassador in the United States, Wins Top Honors
At an awards ceremony today in Washington DC, the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) named H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy, the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to the United States, as its “Ambassador of the Year.” Upwards of 200 business and government leaders participated in the awards luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel, including nine corporate sponsors whose companies are doing business in Oman.
“H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy knows the United States as well as any ambassador in this country,” said David Hamod, President and CEO of the U.S.-Arab Chamber. “In part because of her familiarity with Americans and U.S. institutions, she has been remarkably effective as Oman’s representative in the United States.”
This is the first time that NUSACC has presented the award to the Sultanate of Oman. In receiving this prestigious prize, Ambassador Al-Mughairy noted, “It is often said that it is easy to sit down and take notice but it is difficult to stand up and take action. For all of you, in business or in politics, I thank you for standing up and taking action. Without your enthusiasm, commitment, and sheer hard work, I would not be in a position to receive this award today.”
“I have been in my current post as Oman’s Ambassador to the United States for the past five years, and it has truly been an amazing and enriching experience,” she continued. “It has given me an opportunity to meet with a wide range of U.S. Government representatives and business leaders in order to build upon the already excellent relations that exist between our two countries, the Sultanate of Oman and the United States of America.”
The ambassador has spent a total of 16 years in the United States, including two years at New York University, where she earned a Master’s degree in economics. Prior to her arrival in Washington as Ambassador, Her Excellency served as Representative in New York of the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED). In that capacity, she worked diligently to attract investment to the Sultanate, an experience that provided her with an opportunity to get to know Americans from all walks of life.
“In my travels from coast to coast, especially in my role as Chair of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, I have found the American people to be friendly, family-oriented, and eager to learn about other cultures,” said Ambassador Al-Mughairy. “I have visited 35 states all across this great nation, and the hospitality of the American people is truly remarkable.”
Ambassador Al-Mughairy played an instrumental role in negotiating the U.S.–Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was signed in 2006 and entered into force in January 2009. The FTA with the United States is one of few such agreements around the world, elevating Oman to the “gold standard” of global destinations qualified for trade and investment. Under the terms of the FTA, bilateral trade in almost all sectors is duty-free, with a handful of remaining tariffs to be phased out over ten years.
In FTA-related testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, David Hamod, NUSACC’s President and CEO, said this about Oman: “Under the thoughtful leadership of H.M. Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Oman has been transformed from an economic backwater to one of the most progressive and attractive nations in the region. And unlike some of its neighbors in the Arabian Gulf area, Oman has achieved this status without the benefit of huge energy reserves -- relying instead on the resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of its people.”
Looking back in history, the Sultanate of Oman was the first Arab Gulf nation to sign a bilateral accord with the United States, the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. From the first recorded contact between the two nations – the arrival in Muscat in 1790 of a ship from Boston named the Rambler – relations between Oman and the United States have been strong, consistent, and enduring.
In the words of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, “Both nations share a seafaring heritage, mutual commercial interests, a tradition of tolerance, and a desire for contact with other cultures as some of the distinguishing features of this long-term relationship.”
Commercial relations today, supported by the FTA, are on the upswing. A World Travel and Tourism Council report from last year identified Oman as a “fast mover,” estimating an increase in tourism revenues alone from $4.36 billion in 2010 to $7.6 billion by 2020. Moreover, the Sultanate is on track to receive more than $3 billion annually in U.S. goods and services by the year 2013, according to recent research conducted by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Two recent events have served to boost Oman’s commercial relations with the United States.
First, the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oman last year to promote small and medium-sized enterprises in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Second, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) signed an MOU earlier this year to establish the Oman – U.S. Joint Business Council, the first bilateral entity of its kind between the two nations. The new Council, now in formation, is expected to concentrate on the transfer of knowledge and technology, better business practices, regulatory systems, capacity-building, and trade & investment facilitation. The MOU signing ceremony, held on March 7 in conjunction with an Oman-U.S. Economic Forum, was conducted in the presence of H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy and Hon. Richard J. Schmierer, U.S. Ambassador to Oman.
NUSACC’s “Ambassador of the Year” award is presented annually to a member of the Arab diplomatic corps in the United States for his or her outstanding contributions to U.S.-Arab relations. This is the seventh year that the award has been presented, and previous honorees have included top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Tunisia, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Corporate sponsors for this year’s award ceremony consisted of companies representing a variety of sectors, highlighting Oman’s growing economic diversity. These sectors include aerospace & aviation (Boeing), banking (Citi), consulting (Booz Allen Hamilton), defense & security (L-3 / MPRI and Raytheon), energy (ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum), and law (Baker Donelson and DLA Piper). Several of these companies offered congratulatory remarks at the luncheon.
Heather Pederson of Boeing observed that Ambassador Al-Mughairy serves as a “role model” on both personal and diplomatic levels. Ms. Pederson also commended Her Excellency for her leadership, and that of her colleagues in Muscat, on being named one of the first Arab countries to sign the Capetown Convention on aviation – a step that has greatly benefited Omani and American companies.
The Honorable George (“Cran”) Montgomery, former U.S. Ambassador to Oman and now a representative of the Baker Donelson law firm, said, “I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of this award. Hallmarks of Ambassador Al-Mughairy’s tenure will certainly be the honor of serving as the first lady Ambassador from the Arab world to Washington, and imbuing the Oman Embassy with a new sense of energy and purpose.”
Laura Lane of Citi recalled that Ambassador Al-Mughairy brought “a secret magic” to gaining Congressional approval of the Oman-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). She noted that the Ambassador combines “silent strength” with “great grace” in her immensely effective diplomacy.
George Salem of DLA Piper law firm also cited Ambassador Al-Mughairy as an “architect” of the U.S.-Oman FTA. He went on to note that her posting to the U.S. “provided a huge boost to the United States, to the Arab world, and to Arab women. She exemplifies an effective ambassador.”
Sponsor testimonials concluded with Ian Davis of Occidental Petroleum, who related a story of Ambassador Al-Mughairy visiting his daughter’s school and joining students in an impromptu singing of a song in Swahili. A picture of Her Excellency singing with the students still hangs prominently in the school. Through such grace and friendliness, Mr. Davis said, Ambassador Al-Mughairy has touched many people and truly brought together a wide range Omanis and Americans.
Mr. Davis read aloud a congratulatory letter from Oxy’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Ray Irani. “This recognition is well deserved,” Dr. Irani stated. “During your tenure, Oman’s accomplishments, including the approval of a U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, have earned the respect of your peers in the Administration, Congress and the Washington diplomatic community, and the admiration of the business community whom you so generously support.”
“H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy knows the United States as well as any ambassador in this country,” said David Hamod, President and CEO of the U.S.-Arab Chamber. “In part because of her familiarity with Americans and U.S. institutions, she has been remarkably effective as Oman’s representative in the United States.”
This is the first time that NUSACC has presented the award to the Sultanate of Oman. In receiving this prestigious prize, Ambassador Al-Mughairy noted, “It is often said that it is easy to sit down and take notice but it is difficult to stand up and take action. For all of you, in business or in politics, I thank you for standing up and taking action. Without your enthusiasm, commitment, and sheer hard work, I would not be in a position to receive this award today.”
“I have been in my current post as Oman’s Ambassador to the United States for the past five years, and it has truly been an amazing and enriching experience,” she continued. “It has given me an opportunity to meet with a wide range of U.S. Government representatives and business leaders in order to build upon the already excellent relations that exist between our two countries, the Sultanate of Oman and the United States of America.”
The ambassador has spent a total of 16 years in the United States, including two years at New York University, where she earned a Master’s degree in economics. Prior to her arrival in Washington as Ambassador, Her Excellency served as Representative in New York of the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED). In that capacity, she worked diligently to attract investment to the Sultanate, an experience that provided her with an opportunity to get to know Americans from all walks of life.
“In my travels from coast to coast, especially in my role as Chair of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, I have found the American people to be friendly, family-oriented, and eager to learn about other cultures,” said Ambassador Al-Mughairy. “I have visited 35 states all across this great nation, and the hospitality of the American people is truly remarkable.”
Ambassador Al-Mughairy played an instrumental role in negotiating the U.S.–Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was signed in 2006 and entered into force in January 2009. The FTA with the United States is one of few such agreements around the world, elevating Oman to the “gold standard” of global destinations qualified for trade and investment. Under the terms of the FTA, bilateral trade in almost all sectors is duty-free, with a handful of remaining tariffs to be phased out over ten years.
In FTA-related testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, David Hamod, NUSACC’s President and CEO, said this about Oman: “Under the thoughtful leadership of H.M. Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Oman has been transformed from an economic backwater to one of the most progressive and attractive nations in the region. And unlike some of its neighbors in the Arabian Gulf area, Oman has achieved this status without the benefit of huge energy reserves -- relying instead on the resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of its people.”
Looking back in history, the Sultanate of Oman was the first Arab Gulf nation to sign a bilateral accord with the United States, the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. From the first recorded contact between the two nations – the arrival in Muscat in 1790 of a ship from Boston named the Rambler – relations between Oman and the United States have been strong, consistent, and enduring.
In the words of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, “Both nations share a seafaring heritage, mutual commercial interests, a tradition of tolerance, and a desire for contact with other cultures as some of the distinguishing features of this long-term relationship.”
Commercial relations today, supported by the FTA, are on the upswing. A World Travel and Tourism Council report from last year identified Oman as a “fast mover,” estimating an increase in tourism revenues alone from $4.36 billion in 2010 to $7.6 billion by 2020. Moreover, the Sultanate is on track to receive more than $3 billion annually in U.S. goods and services by the year 2013, according to recent research conducted by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Two recent events have served to boost Oman’s commercial relations with the United States.
First, the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oman last year to promote small and medium-sized enterprises in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Second, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) signed an MOU earlier this year to establish the Oman – U.S. Joint Business Council, the first bilateral entity of its kind between the two nations. The new Council, now in formation, is expected to concentrate on the transfer of knowledge and technology, better business practices, regulatory systems, capacity-building, and trade & investment facilitation. The MOU signing ceremony, held on March 7 in conjunction with an Oman-U.S. Economic Forum, was conducted in the presence of H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy and Hon. Richard J. Schmierer, U.S. Ambassador to Oman.
NUSACC’s “Ambassador of the Year” award is presented annually to a member of the Arab diplomatic corps in the United States for his or her outstanding contributions to U.S.-Arab relations. This is the seventh year that the award has been presented, and previous honorees have included top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Tunisia, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Corporate sponsors for this year’s award ceremony consisted of companies representing a variety of sectors, highlighting Oman’s growing economic diversity. These sectors include aerospace & aviation (Boeing), banking (Citi), consulting (Booz Allen Hamilton), defense & security (L-3 / MPRI and Raytheon), energy (ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum), and law (Baker Donelson and DLA Piper). Several of these companies offered congratulatory remarks at the luncheon.
Heather Pederson of Boeing observed that Ambassador Al-Mughairy serves as a “role model” on both personal and diplomatic levels. Ms. Pederson also commended Her Excellency for her leadership, and that of her colleagues in Muscat, on being named one of the first Arab countries to sign the Capetown Convention on aviation – a step that has greatly benefited Omani and American companies.
The Honorable George (“Cran”) Montgomery, former U.S. Ambassador to Oman and now a representative of the Baker Donelson law firm, said, “I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of this award. Hallmarks of Ambassador Al-Mughairy’s tenure will certainly be the honor of serving as the first lady Ambassador from the Arab world to Washington, and imbuing the Oman Embassy with a new sense of energy and purpose.”
Laura Lane of Citi recalled that Ambassador Al-Mughairy brought “a secret magic” to gaining Congressional approval of the Oman-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). She noted that the Ambassador combines “silent strength” with “great grace” in her immensely effective diplomacy.
George Salem of DLA Piper law firm also cited Ambassador Al-Mughairy as an “architect” of the U.S.-Oman FTA. He went on to note that her posting to the U.S. “provided a huge boost to the United States, to the Arab world, and to Arab women. She exemplifies an effective ambassador.”
Sponsor testimonials concluded with Ian Davis of Occidental Petroleum, who related a story of Ambassador Al-Mughairy visiting his daughter’s school and joining students in an impromptu singing of a song in Swahili. A picture of Her Excellency singing with the students still hangs prominently in the school. Through such grace and friendliness, Mr. Davis said, Ambassador Al-Mughairy has touched many people and truly brought together a wide range Omanis and Americans.
Mr. Davis read aloud a congratulatory letter from Oxy’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Ray Irani. “This recognition is well deserved,” Dr. Irani stated. “During your tenure, Oman’s accomplishments, including the approval of a U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, have earned the respect of your peers in the Administration, Congress and the Washington diplomatic community, and the admiration of the business community whom you so generously support.”