Salem, OR (28 March 2017) – United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consul General Abdulla Alsaboosi traveled to Oregon on his official state visit to meet with local government officials and business leaders to highlight the economic relationship between the state and the UAE. During his stay, Consul General Alsaboosi visited Salem, Beaverton, Corvallis and Portland.
While in Salem, he met with the Honorable Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon and exchanged perspectives on the UAE-Oregon relationship and possible areas of future collaboration and visiting the UAE. In addition, Consul General Alsaboosi met with the Honorable Biff Traber, Mayor of Corvallis, and Tom Nelson, Economic Development Manager for the City of Corvallis and Benton County, and Emirati students studying at Oregon State University. Consul General Alsaboosi visited the Nike World Headquarters, High Impact Technology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute, and FLIR Systems.
The UAE is the US’ largest trading partner in the Middle East region, with bilateral trade totaling $25.73 billion in 2016 remaining the United States’ top export destination for the entire region for the eighth year in a row. Over the past five years, US exports to the UAE grew by 97% surpassing $22 billion in 2015. From 2013 to 2016, Oregon exported more than $658.8 million in goods to the UAE. These exports came largely in form of computer and electronic products, machinery parts, as well as laser and optical devices.
“During my visit to Oregon, I enjoyed meeting the Governor along with local governments and business leaders,” said Consul General Alsaboosi. “I am excited by the prospect of deepening our relationship across a range of areas, such as innovative technologies, agriculture, trade and education. I enjoyed listening to Olympian Cyndy Jensen and her colleagues while touring the Nike campus, seeing state-of-the-art facilities and experiencing the Nike spirit. Recently Nike developed a performance hijab for female athletes which is now worn by Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari and weightlifter Amna Al Haddad”.
Consul General Alsaboosi’s visit to Oregon is part of the Consulate’s ongoing effort to raise awareness among West Coast state of the UAE’s role as a reliable partner in the region, and of the increasingly shared values between the UAE and the US. Consul General Alsaboosi plans to visit additional states in the Western Region in the coming months.
