Full Issue in PDF - International Trade Administration
Full Issue in PDF - International Trade Administration
Full Issue in PDF - International Trade Administration
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Short Takes<br />
News from the <strong>International</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> Adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />
<strong>Trade</strong> Mission to Saudi Arabia and Qatar<br />
Yields Positive Results for U.S. Exporters<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g a recent trade mission to Saudia Arabia<br />
and Qatar, 11 U.S. companies <strong>in</strong>troduced their<br />
products and services that can help the two nations<br />
meet challenges <strong>in</strong> the public health and<br />
water and waste management sectors. The mission,<br />
led by Francisco Sánchez, under secretary<br />
of commerce for <strong>in</strong>ternational trade, spent five<br />
days <strong>in</strong> the Middle East from June 5–10, 2010.<br />
“There is more than $750 billion <strong>in</strong> upcom<strong>in</strong>g<br />
projects dur<strong>in</strong>g the next decade <strong>in</strong> these two<br />
markets, and both countries are very <strong>in</strong>terested<br />
and excited to consider American products and<br />
services for these tenders,” Sánchez said. “There<br />
are tremendous opportunities here.”<br />
In 2009, U.S. exports of goods to Saudi Arabia<br />
totaled $10.8 billion. U.S. exports to Qatar that<br />
same year were $2.7 billion.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the mission, Sánchez and the delegation<br />
met with key government and private sector<br />
officials <strong>in</strong> Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,<br />
and Doha, Qatar. Bus<strong>in</strong>ess participants also<br />
conducted more than 200 one-on-one meet<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
with potential clients.<br />
Because of rapid population growth and the<br />
need for public health services to care for their<br />
citizens, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are contemplat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
billions of dollars worth of <strong>in</strong>frastructure,<br />
public health, and water and waste management<br />
projects <strong>in</strong> the near future.<br />
Several mission participants returned to the<br />
United States with plans for projects or for<br />
expand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to both markets. One company<br />
signed contracts worth more than $600,000, and<br />
another laid the groundwork for $2.5 million <strong>in</strong><br />
sales and identified distributors <strong>in</strong> Saudi Arabia<br />
and Qatar.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the recent trade mission that he led to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Francisco<br />
Sánchez (center), the under secretary for <strong>in</strong>ternational trade, participated <strong>in</strong> a<br />
roundtable with Saudi journalists. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)<br />
“This was a very well-organized mission and<br />
set us up with the right partners,” said Ted Jacob,<br />
president of Ted Jacob Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g Group. “It really<br />
gave us a jump start on the market.”<br />
More <strong>in</strong>formation on opportunities <strong>in</strong> the region<br />
is available from the Middle East Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Information<br />
Center at www.export.gov/middleeast.<br />
Specific country <strong>in</strong>formation is available on the<br />
U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service’s Web pages<br />
for Saudi Arabia (www.buyusa.gov/saudiarabia)<br />
and Qatar (www.buyusa.gov/qatar).<br />
Opportunities for Small Companies Focus<br />
of <strong>Trade</strong> Mission to Jamaica and Dom<strong>in</strong>ican<br />
Republic<br />
A 10-company U.S. trade mission to the Dom<strong>in</strong>ican<br />
Republic and Jamaica on June 13–19, 2010,<br />
gave small and medium-sized companies the<br />
chance to explore bus<strong>in</strong>ess opportunities <strong>in</strong> the<br />
two Caribbean countries. The mission was led<br />
by Rick Wade, senior adviser and deputy chief<br />
of staff to the secretary of commerce, and made<br />
stops <strong>in</strong> Santo Dom<strong>in</strong>go, Dom<strong>in</strong>ican Republic,<br />
and K<strong>in</strong>gston, Jamaica.<br />
6<br />
<strong>International</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> UPDATE<br />
July 2010