Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Martin Quinn
at a Reception for Houston Mayor Bill White
 and the Houston, Texas Trade Delegation

Monday, April 21, 2008, 6:00 p.m., Millennium Hotel, Abu Dhabi
(as delivered)

 

 Welcome to Mayor William White & Mrs. Andrea White, honored guests, ladies & gentlemen.

 I understand you had several excellent meetings today after the Embassy briefing, including Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, and Mubadala.  Hope these engagements proved beneficial and eventually profitable.

 Hardly a week goes by when we do not have visitors, governmental and private sector, delegations and groups on fact-finding missions, from the U.S. in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai.  The numbers of visitors, senior officials, members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, and others have increased sharply in the past three years as more of our countrymen and women signal their heightened interest in the United Arab Emirates and what is happening in this country.

 U.S.-UAE economic and trade relations are healthy.  There are more than 750 U.S. companies in the Emirates, and the UAE is America's largest export market in the region.  Between 25-28,000 Americans live and work in the UAE, most of them in business.  Our exports to the UAE have increased by approximately one-third since 2005, contributing to a total two-way trade in 2007 of nearly $13 billion dollars.  The UAE is also a major investor in the U.S., for example, their investment in Citigroup, Mubadala's investment in AMD, and the tie-up of Dubai Bourse with NASDAQ.

The UAE has joined the United States in addressing conventional as well as non-conventional, terrorist threats to Gulf security.  As evidenced in discussions in February, both sides clearly share mutual commitment to peace and security in the Gulf region, including Iraq and Lebanon, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, and infrastructure security.  Yesterday the UAE published its awaited "white paper" on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy highlighting strong commitment to transparency, non-proliferation, safety, security, and internationally recognized best industry practices.  Today the Secretary of State signed with the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan a Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Energy Cooperation.  The UAE also acceded to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

The U.S. and UAE are forming new, productive partnerships on a daily basis.  The Cleveland Clinic's partnership with Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University Medical Center's partnership with Tawam Hospital in Al-Ain improve the total quality of life and medical care for everyone in the UAE.  Johns Hopkins has recently formed a partnership with Al-Rabah Hospital.  And we remember that Oasis Hospital in Al Ain was founded by American medical missionaries in 1960 – a hospital where the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was himself born in 1961.

U.S. and UAE cultural, professional and educational exchanges are also thriving.   Hundreds of Emirati students are taking advantage of opportunities in the American educational system, either in the U.S. or here in the UAE.  American scholars on the Fulbright Program come to study and do research.  The American Universities in Dubai and Sharjah are getting company.  Michigan State University will be opening doors at Academic City in Dubai.  New York University is opening soon in Abu Dhabi.  The world-famous Rochester Institute of Technology has announced plans to come to Dubai's Silicon Oasis.  George Mason University is already in operation in Ras Al Khaimah.  Boston University Dental School has opened a clinic at Dubai’s Healthcare City.

You may have noticed that we've had several high-level visitors from Texas this year, including President George W. Bush in January and former President George H.W. Bush (#41) in February.  Also earlier this month, Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson and Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones from Austin, as well as Andrew Wambsganss, Mayor of Southlake, Texas. This volume of visitors is strong testament to the active commercial connections between the great State of Texas and the United Arab Emirates.

 I want to congratulate Mayor White, the Houston Airport System, and the Greater Houston Partnership for making Houston International Airport the international visitor-friendly port-of-entry that it currently is.  The initiative you have undertaken to work with all relevant Federal authorities to make arrival in Houston for foreign visitors such a positive experience is surely a model that should be replicated around the U.S.  In fact, so popular is Houston International Airport among visitors from the Middle East, that the vast majority of the 100-member delegation organized by our Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) to OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) next month are flying non-stop Dubai to Houston.  (Even though most of them live in Abu Dhabi.)  You will be delighted to know that these visitors to OTC prefer entering the U.S. through Houston (more than through any other city).  Your efforts have succeeded brilliantly.

 Hope the rest of your visit to the Gulf is as successful as the past few days.  Please enjoy the evening.