U.S. Chamber Welcomes Secretary Locke to Discuss Job Creation from U.S.-U.A.E. Civil Nuclear Agreement

Chamber Announces Launch of Trade Mission to the Middle East

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and senior U.S. and U.A.E. experts today to discuss the billions of dollars in potential business opportunities made available by the U.S.-U.A.E. Civil Nuclear Agreement currently before Congress. In tandem with Secretary Locke's appearance, the Business Council announced its trade mission to the U.A.E. to explore American business interests in civilian nuclear energy technology.

"Not only does Congress have the opportunity to advance America's long-term interests in the Middle East, this agreement could put Americans to work right now," said Danny Sebright, president of the Chamber's U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council. "American companies could compete for these contracts, which will create thousands of high-paying jobs here in the U.S."

Conducted in partnership with the Nuclear Energy Institute, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council's newly launched trade mission will arrive in the U.A.E. on December 13 and include three days of meetings with potential private- and public-sector partners. The goals of the trade mission are to:

• Expand relationships between U.S. and U.A.E. civilian nuclear suppliers, developers, and contractors.
• Assess market opportunities in commercial nuclear technologies, including reactors, fuel, components and services, as well as many opportunities in secondary contracts.
• Gain knowledge and insight from American and Emirati businesses on the most effective way to create partnerships in order to secure secondary contracts.

According to the Agreement for Cooperation Between the U.S. and the U.A.E. Concerning Peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy, a recently released white paper from the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, the commercial opportunities from an agreement could exceed $40 billion in value and create well over 10,000 U.S. jobs if American companies are successful in winning business contracts.

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is the premier business organization dedicated to advancing bilateral commercial relations. By leveraging its extensive networks in the U.S. and in the region, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council provides unparalleled access to senior decision makers in business and government with the aim of deepening bilateral trade and investment.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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