Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

US-Arab Chambers of Commerce: Riyadh, Washington to Take Relations to a New Scale | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55374759
Caption:

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud meets with U.S. President Donald Trump during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017.Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS


Riyadh – David Hammoud, President and CEO of the Washington-based National US Arab Chamber of Commerce, said that the visit of US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia would contribute to forging constructive links between the US Administration and the Saudi leadership, noting that economic and political relations between the two countries would be promoted to a new scale.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hammoud said that many companies, which fall under the umbrella of the US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, were part of Trump’s accompanying delegation.

“The extensive presence of these US companies in Riyadh during this visit would convey a strong message on the importance of commercial relations” between the two countries, according to Hammoud.

Asked to evaluate the Saudi-US economic relations and the main goal behind the visit of US businessmen to the Kingdom, Hammoud said: “For many centuries, commercial relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia were the bases of trade and investments with the Arab world.”

According to Hammoud, both Riyadh and Washington established these special relations on common goals and interests, as well as long-term commitments.

“These relations have promoted strong, stable and consolidated partnerships even during times of challenges and difficulties in the Middle East and North Africa,” he stated.

The head of National US Arab Chamber of Commerce went on to say that bilateral partnerships have contributed to the creation of major employment opportunities.

As for US exports to the Kingdom, Hammoud said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE top the list of importers of US products in the Middle East and North Africa.

He also underlined the importance of Saudi Vision 2030 in further promoting Saudi-US trade relations.