UAE Consul General Majid Al-Suwaidi Highlights Strong UAE-US Relationship in Atlanta, Georgia

Consul General Meets with Business and Government Leaders on Visit to Underscore Importance of Trade Ties

NEW YORK – February 14, 2017 – His Excellency Majid Al-Suwaidi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consul General in New York, met with local business and government leaders in Atlanta, Georgia to reinforce the strong UAE-US business ties in the region and discuss economic growth opportunities.

UAE-Georgia trade has been steadily growing over the years. Since 1999, total exports from Georgia to the UAE have grown from $38 million to $740 million in 2015.

“The Atlanta business community is an important partner for the UAE as we continue to strengthen our economic ties with Georgia,” Consul General Al-Suwaidi said. “Georgia is the 9^th largest exporter of goods from the US to the UAE, supporting an estimated 7,600 jobs in the state.”

While in Atlanta, Consul General Al-Suwaidi met with leaders from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and was hosted by the World Affairs Council (WAC) of Atlanta in a roundtable discussion on ease of business and potential investment opportunities for Georgia in the UAE.  

“The UAE has one of the most open and innovative economies in the world and remains a regional hub for businesses worldwide,” Consul General Al-Suwaidi said. “From Georgia alone, there are approximately 30 companies that have operations in the UAE.”

The Consul General’s visit included a tour of General Electric’s (GE) Remote Monitoring & Diagnostics Center and a high-level meeting with GE Power leadership. GE, which has its regional headquarters in Dubai, shared its vision to further advance industrial manufacturing through the Internet of Things (IoT).

Consul General Al-Suwaidi also toured The Coca Cola Company headquarters and held a closed-door meeting with Brian Smith, president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Group. During the meeting, Consul General Al-Suwaidi discussed Expo 2020 in Dubai as a prime opportunity for US companies to showcase their best-in-class products and services to an international audience.

In addition, Consul General Al-Suwaidi spoke with MBA students from the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship in the Middle East. Many of the students expressed great interest in pursuing professional opportunities in the UAE after graduation.

The Consul General’s Atlanta visit supports ongoing efforts to promote shared UAE-US interests, and occurred while Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed was in Dubai for the World Government Summit.