Recent Events & News
This past week, the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) – America’s top commercial gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – hosted a business-focused roundtable on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF / World Bank Group. The honored guest speaker was H.E. Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, widely known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
In his first business event in the USA since being appointed Secretary General, Albudaiwi discussed “Perspectives on the GCC – U.S. Relationship.” More than 50 NUSACC stakeholders participated in the roundtable, including business leaders from around the USA, senior officials from the U.S. Government and Arab governments, members of the GCC Secretariat, and representatives of civil society. The roundtable was hosted by the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, a Platinum member of NUSACC. “This high-level gathering was one of the most informative and relevant government-to-private sector events involving GCC matters,” said Al Maloof of Barnes & Thornburg. To read the full report, please click here. 
The National U.S. - Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) announced today that Her Excellency Hanène Tajouri Bessassi, Tunisia’s Ambassador to the United States, has been selected as the 2024 Ambassador of the Year. This award, begun in 2004, is given annually to a member of the Arab diplomatic corps in the USA for his or her outstanding contributions to U.S. - Arab commercial relations. The invitation-only award ceremony will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Washington DC in December. (Click here to see the Ambassador’s biography.)
“Ambassador Tajouri Bessassi has helped to bring a measure of stability and predictability to the Tunisia – U.S. partnership at a time of great change across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region,” noted David Hamod, President & CEO of NUSACC. “As the birthplace of the 2010 Arab Spring, Tunisia has faced extraordinary challenges in its pursuit of democracy. Ambassador Tajouri Bessassi has worked hard to explain those challenges and opportunities to American policymakers – in Washington DC and beyond the beltway – which has helped to keep the Tunisia – U.S. relationship on an even keel.” Ambassador Tajouri Bessassi stated, “I am deeply honored to be named the 2024 Ambassador of the Year by NUSACC. This prestigious recognition, awarded to a humble diplomat committed to strengthening Tunisia-U.S. relations, reflects the longstanding partnership between our two nations and peoples.” To read the full report, please click here. China is making strategic inroads into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. While the USA struggles to keep the peace in the region, China is forging ahead with economic programs and incentives that are very attractive to Middle Eastern governments and businesses alike.
China is outpacing the United States in trade with the MENA region through a multifaceted approach that encompasses exports, investment in infrastructure and technology, energy partnerships, and growing military cooperation. China’s expanding partnerships in the region are eroding U.S. influence, challenging America’s strategic interests and diminishing the economic leverage that the USA has traditionally enjoyed in the region. This is affecting sectors in which the United States has historically had a strong position, such as aerospace, security, technology, education, and agriculture. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains the centerpiece of that nation’s aggressive push into the MENA region, driving massive infrastructure investments. Between 2013 and 2021, Arab countries received approximately $128.9 billion in Chinese investments, with projects ranging from ports to telecommunications to railways. This level of engagement highlights the importance of the Arab world in China’s global ambitions. The entire white paper may be accessed here. 
U.S. Exports to the Arab World Jump By 12 Percent to $65.3 Billion
According to data released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. goods exports to the Arab world jumped 12 percent to $65.3 billion in 2023, marking the first year-on-year increase in U.S. exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) since the COVID era in 2021. The new data were compiled by the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), America’s top commercial gateway to the MENA region.
“American exporters are facing certain challenges in the region, tied primarily to supply chain bottlenecks, as well as the continuing tragedy in Gaza,” said David Hamod, NUSACC’s President & CEO. “But on the whole, economic growth in MENA is outweighing such challenges. This is good news for the U.S. export community, which is facing slowdowns in some other parts of the world.” In 2023, the Top Five destinations for U.S. goods exports to MENA were the United Arab Emirates ($24.9 billion), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ($13.9 billion), the State of Qatar ($4.7 billion), the Republic of Egypt ($4.5 billion), and the Kingdom of Morocco ($3.8 billion). These five nations accounted for $51.8 billion in U.S. sales, representing approximately 80 percent of American goods exports to the Arab world. To read the full report, please click here. BAHRAIN: Minister of Industry & Commerce Highlights Opportunities
The National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), America’s top commercial gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recently hosted a business roundtable featuring H.E. Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce. More than 30 businesses participated in the discussion, which also included senior officials from the U.S. Government, the Government of Bahrain, and state governments from around the United States.
The roundtable was organized in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), a “sister chamber” of NUSACC. The gathering was hosted by the law firm of K&L Gates LLP and sponsored by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), a world-leading aluminum smelter that exports to more than 270 clients around the world. To read the full report, please click here. 
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