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Announcing Africa Insight Committee
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We are pleased to introduce you to our Africa Insight Committee. With their counsel and expertise, our committee members will help us drive the initiatives necessary to unlock the potential of the sub-Saharan African market, and deliver first-class programs to our stakeholders, partners and members. We would like to express our sincere thanks to these esteemed leaders:
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| Dr. Timi Austen–Peters |
Greg Evans
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Geoffrey White |
Vernon Darko
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Chairman
Dorman Long Engineering |
Chairman
Universal Weather & Aviation, Inc.
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Chief Executive Officer
Agility Africa
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President
EQUIPXP
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| Fred Lucha |
Saba Abashawl |
Samir Zedira |
Oise Ihonde |
Vice President – Energy
Government & Construction Services
UPS |
Chief External Affairs Officer
Houston Airport System (HAS)
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Schlumberger |
Director
MODEC International, Inc. |
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Insight to Africa Highlight
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Ghana Transport
Interview with Bilateral Chamber Africa Insight Committee Member:
Geoffrey White, CEO, Agility Africa
Interview published by Oxford Business Group |
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What potential does Ghana offer as a trans-shipment and transit centre for nearby countries?
GEOFFREY WHITE: I think Ghana is the natural gateway to West Africa.
It has political stability and a strong economy in the medium and long
term, supported by cocoa and oil, and is well positioned to become the
centre for regional distribution...
Click here to read full interview.
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Expert Insight Series
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Energy
Interview with Bilateral Chamber Board Member
Rob Franklin, President, ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company
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Can you explain the view that natural gas and LNG demand will grow strongly?
ROB FRANKLIN: First,
global population is growing, and this growth will add another 2 billion
energy consumers by 2040. Three billion people will join the middle
class and will help drive power generation as the fastest-growing part
of energy demand.
Secondly, when
considering the economic and environmental benefits of energy sources,
natural gas checks all the boxes—it is abundant; available at scale;
reliable and efficient as a source of energy; and it produces less
carbon dioxide and other emissions than coal. This is why the demand for
natural gas has grown faster than the overall demand for energy...
Click here to read full interview.
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Travel & Immigration
Visa Update for Business Travelers to the United States
By: Charles C. Foster, Chairman, Foster LLP, Attorney at Law, Houston, Texas
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Prior
to adjourning for the holidays, as part of the Omnibus Bill the U.S.
Congress approved on December 18, 2015, Congress included a number of
immigration provisions that will have a substantial impact on both
business travelers to the United States from the Middle East as well as
an increasing number of Middle Eastern foreign nationals who are
considering acquiring Lawful Permanent Residency or so-called “green
card” status in the United States for personal, business and even
security reasons…
Click here to read full article.
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Member Spotlight
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The Bulsard Group
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The
Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Greenbelt Certification Course will be held on 8
Saturdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Prairie View A&M Northwest
Campus located at 9449 Grant Road, Houston, TX. This course is offered
to PVAMU Executive MBA, MBA, and all other students at a discounted rate
of $2500. All others in the Houston community may sign up for a cost
of $3000. Included in your course fee will be the following:
certificate of completion, training manual, reference book(s), and
evening snacks.
Course dates are:
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• January 23
• February 6
• February 20
• March 6
• March 12
• April 2
• April 16
• April 30
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| For more information and to sign-up, email certification@bulsardgroup.com. |
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Upcoming Series & Programs
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Partnership Insight Series: Saudi - American Healthcare Forum
Improving Healthcare through Bilateral Knowledge
April 25-27, 2016- Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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The 2016 Saudi-American Healthcare Forum will assemble business leaders, policy makers, educators and medical professionals to uncover and promote both U.S. and Saudi initiatives that are focused on healthcare improvements.
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Partnership Insight Series: U.S. Department of Commerce
Healthcare Technology and Health Services Trade Mission
April 23-28, 2016- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
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We are proud to call your attention to the U.S. Department of Commerce's (USDOC) healthcare-focused trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The mission’s purpose is to introduce U.S. firms to the rapidly expanding healthcare sectors in these two countries and to assist U.S. companies in pursuing opportunities in this sector.
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Registration Deadline: February 12, 2016
For more information on how to register, contact Ms. Lucy Girgawy at lucy@bilateralchamber.org.
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Insight to MENA Hightlight
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Featured Economist Interview with His Excellency Muhammad bin Salman,
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince
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SAUDI
ARABIA is thinking about listing shares in Saudi Aramco, the
state-owned company that is the world’s biggest oil producer and almost
certainly the world’s most valuable company. Muhammad bin Salman, the
kingdom’s deputy crown prince and power behind the throne of his father,
King Salman, has told The Economist that a decision will be taken in
the next few months. “Personally I’m enthusiastic about this step,” he
said. “I believe it is in the interest of the Saudi market, and it is in
the interest of Aramco.”
Click here to read full interview.
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Education Insight Series: 2016 Bilateral Model Arab League (MAL)
Regional Conference
February 19-21, 2016- Houston, Texas
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Hosted by
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In partnership with the National Council on U.S.- Arab relations, the 9th annual Bilateral Model Arab League will once again convene college students from leading universities across the U.S. to craft solutions to the Arab world’s current and most pressing issues in a simulated meeting of the League of Arab States. Register your university’s delegation now to take part in what many former delegations have called, the "high point of each year.” For more information, contact Ms. Lucy Girgawy at lucy@bilateralchamber.org or register here.
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Members in the News
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MENA Business News
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