Jordan - National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce

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From the President’s DeskJordan: Leading the Pack with Vision and VerveNUSACC President David HamodWe have adopted a far-reaching plan that addressesthe key areas of good governance, political freedoms,women’s rights, judicial reform, economic reform,education reform, and the liberalization of theeconomy. We also are strongly committed to a keyrole by civil society. Our aim is to move towardsa system that respects diversity and guaranteespluralism at all times so that democracy is notused by any who might opt to be subject to it onceand then deny it to others.H.M. King Abdullah IIWashington, D.C., May 6, 2004No Head of State in the Arab world today isbetter positioned than H.M. King Abdullah ofJordan to bridge the yawning gap between Eastand West.On the one hand, he is making the case tohis people and the nations of the region that theymust adopt unprecedented reforms if the Arabworld is to safeguard its political and economicfuture in an increasingly globalized world.On the other hand, in meetings with Administrationofficials, Members of Congress, and the U.S.business community, King Abdullah bravely carriesto U.S. policymakers the Arab world’s messagesabout terrorism, Islam, Palestine, and Iraq.It both cases, it is a challenging and oftenthankless job.King Abdullah is a regular visitor to the UnitedStates, yet his visit at this juncture carries a specialsignificance because the Middle East is in anextraordinary period of transition:• The Palestinian people are searching for newleadership after the passing of the PLO’s largerthan-lifeChairman, Yasser Arafat;• Iraq is battling widespread violence as it lurchesin fits and starts toward free and fairelections;• The region has lost one of its most pivotal “wisemen,” H.H. Shaikh Zayed of the UAE, whohistorically played a central role in helping theArab world to speak with one voice;• Ariel Sharon’s conflicted coalition in Israel isteetering on the edge of collapse, raising newfears about how deteriorating political conditionsmay stymie fragile new peace talks;• George W. Bush, about to start his second termas President, brings a new foreign policy teamto the equation – raising many questions abouthow this new team will tackle such sensitiveissues as U.S. security and democracy in theMiddle East.This is indeed a time of transition. And aswith any transition, there are remarkable opportunitiesand risks on the line.Jordan, of course, is no stranger to takingrisks. With very few natural resources, Jordanhas used the resourcefulness and determinationof its people to survive in a very tough neighborhood.Jordan’s extraordinary commitment tohuman resources has enabled the HashemiteKingdom to blaze trails that few others in theregion would even consider.Jordan was the first nation in the Arab worldto sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with theUnited States, for example, nearly five years beforethe next signatory, Morocco (2004). As a resultof Jordan’s willingness to make sacrifices andtake a chance on the FTA, it has enjoyed unprecedentedaccess to the U.S. market.In the same spirit, Jordan made a commitmentin 1999 to launch the REACH Initiative in abid to become a world-class player in the field ofInformation Technology. As articles in this issueof U.S.-Arab Tradeline make clear, Jordan hassome remarkable home-grown success stories, inno small part as a result of close cooperationbetween Jordan’s public and private sectors.When it comes to bolstering its knowledgebasedeconomy, Jordan is once again pulling outall the stops. The Hashemite Kingdom has placeditself at the nexus of technology and educationalreform like no one else in the Arab world and,as a result, the people of Jordan are reapingbenefits in the workplace and at home.Jordan’s willingness to go out on a limb isgaining currency, so to speak, and this is not loston other nations in the region. Some of thesecountries will “draw even” with Jordan over time,of course. But for now, Jordan is enjoying theview at the head of the pack, and there’s nolooking back.David HamodPresident2 November/ December 2004 • US-Arab Tradeline
NUSACC Honors Secretary of EnergySpencer AbrahamOn September 29, in front of a crowd of some 200corporate leaders and ambassadors, NUSACC presenteda Lifetime Achievement Award to The Honorable SpencerAbraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy. In making thisaward, NUSACC’s leadershipcelebrated the more than two decadesof public service that SecretaryAbraham has given to his communityand the United States.“NUSACC is truly proud ofSpence and what he has achieved,and the honor that we bestow on him“He knows that governmentmust do what it can tocreate an economic climatethat fosters investment inemerging technologies.”NUSACC’s Chairman, Don DeMarino,about Secretary Abrahamtoday is a small token of our gratitudeand pride,” said Don DeMarino,NUSACC’s Chairman. “He has never lost his appreciationfor his roots, and that has served him well throughevery phase of his public life.”DeMarino continued, “Spence has a desire to bringnew solutions to bear on old problems, and this setshim apart from many in government. He appreciatesthe risks involved in exploring new paths, and he is notafraid to take those risks. He understands the hurdlesthat entrepreneurs face, particularly small businessowners, and he assists them. And he knows that governmentmust do what it can to create an economic climatethat fosters investment in emerging technologies. Forthese reasons and more, we are privileged today to honorSecretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (center) receives a Lifetime Achievement Award fromDan DeMarino, NUSACC’s chairman (left), and David Hamod, NUSACC’s President andCEO (right).Secretary Abraham receives a congratulatory handshake from Senator Chuck Hagel at an awrdsceremony sponsored by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce.Spencer Abraham, a genuine American success story.”In receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award,Secretary Abraham said, “It is seldom the case that onehas the opportunity to be honored – particularly in thistown! – so I want to say how grateful I am to receivethis award. In addition to thanking NUSACC, I wantto express my appreciation to the members of the ambassadorialcommunity who came here today to share theirgoodwill.”In his concluding remarks,Secretary Abraham noted, “It isexciting to see organizations likethe Chamber doing such a great jobin tackling economic challengesand developing economic opportunitiesbetween the United Statesand the Arab world. It is also greatto see increasing collaborationbetween the Chamber’s small andlarge companies in pursuit of ahigher quality of life – both in theUnited States and in the MiddleEast. I hope that through thecontinuing success of this organizationwe will see even more of thatcollaboration in the future. Keepup the good work!” ✦U.S. Secretary of EnergySpencer AbrahamNUSACC would like tothank the followingsponsors for theirsupport of the awardsceremony:US-Arab TradelineDesignRick Clark Illustration& DesignNovember/ December 2004 • US-Arab Tradeline3
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Jordan - National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce

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