The delegation includes small and medium enterprises (SME) and minority business leaders from Illinois who are interested in learning about opportunities in the region and meeting with area business leaders and officials to develop partnerships. The delegates will travel to the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before returning to the U.S. later next week.
“I am honored to be leading this delegation showcasing some of Chicago’s most vibrant and promising SME’s,” US Representative for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, Congressman Danny K. Davis, said. “I firmly believe that the relationships established during this trip will serve as a bridge that will unite these small businesses which are the engine of Chicago’s spirit, with their counterparts in Bahrain.”
The Bilateral Chamber partnered with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to develop a productive agenda during the two-day visit. Highlights of the trip have included an official briefing by the US Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas C. Krajeski encompassing economic, security and political insights, and meetings with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the American Business Association – Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Tamkeen, leading Bahraini financial banking institutions, and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Bahrain.
“We have enjoyed a very strong relationship with the US over the years, and this visit represents an opportunity to build on our longstanding and close diplomatic ties and our strong economic and trade connections – including the success of our Free Trade Agreement,” Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain EDB, said.
“Bahrain is assisting a growing number of international companies, particularly SMEs, with the access required to realize the trade and investment opportunities of the Gulf market, which is now worth over a trillion dollars.”
Illinois is home to over 2000 foreign firms and is ranked #1 in the Midwestern United States for foreign investment. The state is the fifth largest economy in the nation and is one of the 20 largest economies in the world.
“The Illinois delegates look forward to networking with the private sector in Bahrain as well as business leadership from global corporations operating in the region to both gather information on opportunities here, and highlight their own expertise and services for Bahraini companies looking to invest in Chicago and the state of Illinois,” Aida Araissi, Bilateral Chamber President, said.
The Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (Bilateral Chamber) is an exclusive membership-based network of international business leadership that works to establish strategic connections between the United States and Middle East/North Africa (MENA) to foster economic growth, educational exchanges and cultural understanding. Founded in 1997, the Bilateral Chamber creates access, strategic options and results for its members by facilitating relationships with key decision-makers, helping to navigate through the complex field of international trade, and producing effective programming including trade missions, conferences, seminars, workshops, and educational exchange initiatives.