UAE Consul General Majid Al-Suwaidi Meets with Florida Governor Rick Scott on Expanding Economic Partnership

Consul General reinforces strong UAE-Florida bilateral relationship

NEW YORK – March 24, 2017 – Earlier this week, His Excellency Majid Al-Suwaidi, United Arab Emirates Consul General in New York, met with Florida Governor Rick Scott in Tallahassee to discuss the important relationship between the UAE and Florida and opportunities for increased economic ties. The discussion followed meetings in Orlando with local businesses, government officials, and representatives from the travel and tourism industries.  The Consul General also met with Enterprise Florida, the state’s principal economic development organization.

“It was a pleasure meeting with Governor Scott and discussing areas of future collaboration,” Consul General Al-Suwaidi said. “The UAE’s longstanding partnership with the state has flourished in recent years and has helped to pave the way for new investment opportunities for both the UAE and Florida.”

The UAE is a significant economic partner to the state. In 2016, Florida exported over $1.5 billion in goods to the UAE, making Florida a top five US exporter to the UAE.

During the meeting with Governor Scott, Consul General Al-Suwaidi highlighted the UAE’s recent ventures in the state, including Gulftainer’s $100 million investment in its first US terminal at Port Canaveral. The new terminal is projected to contribute more than $630 million to Florida’s local economy and create thousands of jobs.

“Emirati companies have found Florida to be an attractive market to invest in,” Consul General Al-Suwaidi said. “From Orlando to Tampa and Miami, UAE-based companies are investing millions of dollars, ensuring that the economic relationship between the UAE and Florida continues to strengthen.”

Consul General Al-Suwaidi also discussed the UAE Space Agency’s partnership with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to collaborate in aeronautics research and the exploration and use of airspace and outer space, reinforcing the UAE’s robust and dynamic relationship with the state.

In addition, Consul General Al-Suwaidi noted the significant impact that UAE airlines have had on Florida’s tourism-driven economy. In the past two years, Emirates Airline launched daily flights from Dubai to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, bringing thousands of visitors to Central and South Florida.  These flights provide hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact and thousands of jobs to Florida.  They also provide access to new markets in the Middle East and Asia for Florida businesses.

Consul General Al-Swuadi’s meeting with Governor Scott is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen bilateral ties and promote shared interests. He was accompanied by Danny Sebright, president of the US-UAE Business Council and officials from the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC.