Recent Events & NewsChina 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. 
NUSACC supports Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) gathering in Saudi Arabia
Washington DC – The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), America’s top commercial gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recently helped to sponsor the inaugural Riyadh International Disputes Week (RIDW) in Saudi Arabia. Held under the auspices of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), RIDW 2024 reflected the Kingdom’s commitment to expanding its offerings to the global community that supports commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
An overview of the event may be found here. In the words of Dr. Hamed H. Merah, CEO of the SCCA and the driving force behind the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, “All of us are working diligently to ensure that Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and beyond continue to be ADR-friendly jurisdictions competing at the highest levels . . . . SCCA believes in the philosophy of continuous learning and drawing insights from many resources, while preserving SCCA’s unique identity.” To read the full report, please click here. NUSACC and Embassy of Bahrain Co-Host GCC Women Entrepreneurs
Washington DC: The Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in partnership with the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) – America’s top commercial gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – recently co-hosted a delegation of 20 women entrepreneurs from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The high-level dinner for 75 business and government leaders took place at the residence of Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Abdullah Bin Rashid AlKhalifa. (A short video of the evening’s activities may be found here.) To read the full report, please click here. 
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