The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Middle East and Africa Department is dedicated to advancing the commercial opportunities and interests of the broader U.S. business community in these two dynamic regions by leveraging our network of American Chambers of Commerce, U.S. government agencies, U.S. embassies abroad, and foreign embassies in Washington, the department provides unparalleled access for its member companies across the regions.
Middle East and Africa Affairs Brochure
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The U.S. Chamber of Middle East Programs
The Middle East and Africa Department represents U.S. Chamber member company interests in the Middle East by advocating trade and investment policies that facilitate business in the region's markets. The combined bilateral trade between the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in 2006 was more that $62 billion—more than U.S. bilateral trade with India or Brazil. The United States now has free trade agreements (FTAs) with four countries in the Middle East (Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Israel), enhancing the access and attractiveness of these markets.
Below are some of the priorities of the Middle East and Africa Department:
- Supporting the U.S. government Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) initiative and bilateral trade agreements with the economies of the region.
- Advocating for U.S. export and investment policies which balance U.S. security interests in the Middle East while ensuring a commercial environment that is conducive to continued U.S. business engagement with its Middle East counterparts.
- Continuing to act as the premier venue for dialogue between U.S. and Middle East business and government decision makers.
- Monitoring key legislation on Capitol Hill that affects our commercial relationship in the Middle East.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Iraq Business Initiative
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Iraq Business Initiative along with the Kurdistan Region Investment Task Force, was launched in June 2008, under the U.S. Chamber's Middle East Affairs Department.
The Iraq Business Initiative (IBI) is a core program of the Middle East Affairs Department. It is also an important part of the organization's International Division that is focused on helping the U.S. business community compete in the global marketplace. The IBI is made up of a group of very distinguished American businesses. Its mission includes increasing member's access to Iraqi markets, helping expand investment opportunities, and promoting dialogue and access to decision makers in the U.S., the Government of Iraq (GOI), and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It also encompasses effective advocacy and business development programs throughout Iraq and the United States.
The IBI is the premier venue for dialogue between American and Iraqi business and governmental decision makers, and over the last three years the U.S. Chamber has led the force in the dialogue about economic development in Iraq. There are a number of challenges that Iraq and the United States face in this crucial time of transition and the Chamber is dedicated to eliminating these challenges. The aim of the Iraq Business Initiative is to generate and execute on new ideas for partnerships and business policy that can influence the thinking of our government, our business leaders, and their counterparts.
Since its recent launch, the IBI has been actively facilitating specific business opportunities in Iraq, providing its members with access to key decision makers and has pursued targeted advocacy on their behalf. In the past year, the IBI hosted and a number of business delegations and economic stakeholders from Iraq, and several distinguished Iraqi officials, including President Massoud Barzani, H.E. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Barham Salih, Iraqi Deputy Primie Minister Dr. Rafi Al-Eissawi, H.E. Falah Bakir, Minister and Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the KRG, H.E. Dr. Kareem Waheed Al-Aboudi, Minister of Electricity, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, and KRG Representative to the United States, Qubad Talabany.
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Councils
The Middle East and Africa Department is also home to two bilateral business councils: The U.S.-Bahrain Business Council and the US-UAE Business Council. The department considers all the Gulf Cooperation Countries to be priority countries (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman). Complimenting this robust portfolio, the Department has ongoing interests in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Iraq.
U.S.-Bahrain Business Council:
The U.S.-Bahrain Business Council (USBBC) was inaugurated on September 14, 2006 at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. The USBBC is the premier international forum where public and private sector stockholders can address bilateral business relations. The Council considers, in depth, the fundamental policy issues affecting U.S. economic relations. This includes advising both U.S. and Bahraini government entities on issues of importance to our respective business communities.
The Council also serves as a platform for fostering business to business relationships between American and Bahraini entrepreneurs. The USBBC provides valuable information on all areas related to our members' interests.
Link: http://www.usbahrainbusiness.org
The U.S.-Egypt Business Council (USEBC) was inaugurated on November 23, 2009 at the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America.
The mission of the U.S. – Egypt Business Council (US-EBC) is to operate as the premier vehicle for advancing the bilateral commercial relationship between the United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt and to promote the economic and political relationships at the highest levels of government and business in both countries.