North Africa Business Panel Sees Participation From U.S.-Arab Chamber

North Africa Business Panel Sees Participation From U.S.-Arab Chamber

Over 150 business and government leaders from Washington DC convened to hear remarks from, and pose questions to, an expert panel on ‘Infrastructure and Business Opportunities in North Africa.’
Hosted by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) and supported by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), the panel included: Hon. Deborah McCarthy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Finance and Development at the U.S. Department of State; Mr. Curtis Silvers, Executive Vice President at the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Carl Kress, Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe at the U.S. Trade & Development Agency; Mr. Steven Mayo, Business Development Officer for Project and Structured Finance at the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Ms. Randa Fahmy Hudome, President of Fahmy Hudome International; and Ms. Laura Lombard, Director of Business Development at Sidar Global Advisors.

The panel was moderated by NCUSAR President & CEO, Dr. John Duke Anthony, who highlighted the importance of better education, deeper understanding, and stronger human connections between the United States and the Arab world. Panelists discussed the wide range of business opportunities available for U.S. companies in North Africa, with a particular focus on infrastructure, as well as U.S. Government resources available to support such business deals.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. exports reached $2.1 trillion in 2011 — the highest total value in U.S. history — and supported roughly 10 million American jobs. Growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was representative of this trend, posting significant gains over the past year, despite the onset of the Arab Spring. According to data analyzed by NUSACC, U.S. goods exports to the Arab world increased from $48.77bn in 2010 to $56.18bn in 2011, an increase of 15.2% and the highest single-year sales volume ever.

Riding on the strength of commercial and military aircraft sales, the largest category of goods exported was Transportation Equipment, constituting $17.58bn (31.3%) of total U.S. goods shipped to the Arab world. Other “Top Five” export sectors included Non-Electrical Machinery ($7.53bn, 13.4%), Agricultural Products ($4.97bn, 8.85%), Computer & Electronic Products ($4.21bn, 7.5%), and Food & Kindred Products ($3.44bn, 6.12%). The MENA region is not the largest market in the world for U.S. companies, but it is certainly one of the most strategic.

These findings are consistent with the Chamber’s research that shows U.S. exports of goods and services to the Arab world growing to $117bn by the end of next year. (Click here to see NUSACC’s 2013 forecast.) In coming weeks, NUSACC is scheduled to publish data on U.S. exports of goods and services to the MENA region through the year 2015. NUSACC’s preliminary research suggests that exports will grow from $84bn in 2011 to $167bn by 2015. Of this amount, over $30bn of U.S. exports are projected to be sold to the Arab countries of North Africa, including Egypt – more than doubling U.S. exports to North Africa from 2011.

“The Arab Spring has affected every country in the region in different ways, but it has meant more than just chaos and instability,” Silvers noted. “The Arab Spring has also created opportunities through economic reforms, increased transparency, and the opening of markets that had largely been closed, particularly in North Africa.”

Of particular focus in the region are investments in construction, renewable energy development, and electric power generation. NUSACC’s recently completed trade mission to Libya and Tunisia highlighted opportunities available to American companies looking to do business in the region.

“Despite the economic turbulence of the past 18 months,” Silvers concluded. “American exports to the region clearly continue to grow. We are very encouraged by the upswing in U.S. exports, and we are optimistic that America’s export trends to the region will continue to move in the right direction.”

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