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A Message from the CEO
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Dear Colleagues,
As we look back at a historic year of unprecedented personal and professional challenges, I would like to extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to those that have lost loved ones, friends, and associates during the COVID-19 global pandemic, as well as to express our profound hope and optimism that brighter days are ahead.
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I would also like to share that, despite the pandemic-generated global economic shutdown, the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce has continued to evolve and forge ahead in 2020 by successfully expanding our global and economic programming “footprint” to generate commercial opportunities for our members and stakeholders across broader global regions and multiple economic sectors.
For 2021, the Bilateral Chamber launched an informative Webinar Series entitled “Global Rebound 2021”. It will continue throughout the year as the world recovers from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Global Rebound 2021” is timely and informative. But, most importantly, it is based upon our belief in brighter days ahead for our respective organizations and it will endeavor to provide your organization with the information, tools, and opportunities to rebound to new heights. It is in the spirit of our optimism that we are excited to highlight below a glimpse of our robust list of forthcoming programs, initiatives, and opportunities across global regions, such as MENA, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Indo-Pacific, and Latin America, and multiple economic sectors, such as Energy, Aviation & Aerospace, Space Technology, Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology, and Digitalization Technology.
As we provide you with an overview of our exciting program for 2021 and beyond, we do so with a spirit of understanding and empathy for the challenges that each of you have faced on a personal and professional level and with sincere appreciation and gratitude for our members and sponsors whose continued patronage supports ALL of our programs and initiatives.
I hope you enjoy this 2021 Outlook and on behalf of our entire team, I wish you a Healthy and Prosperous 2021 and beyond!
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Aida Araissi
Chief Executive Officer
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Current Sector & Country-Focused Programs
Global Rebound 2021 Webinar Series |
In Collaboration With:
Special Thanks To:
Ambassador Insight Series: U.S. Policy in the MENA Region
Under President-Elect Biden
December 15, 2020
Launching our Global Rebound 2021 Webinar Series, the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce hosted an in-depth discussion with members of our board, a panel of seasoned former Ambassadors. The topic was the Biden Administration’s new policy objectives and outcomes for the MENA region.
Topics of discussion and participant areas of interest included:
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- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Nuclear Deal
- U.S. Troop Withdrawal from the Middle East
- Regional War in Yemen
- Civil War in Libya
- GCC dynamics of the Blockade of Qatar
- Abraham Accords
- Commercial Opportunities for U.S. Businesses
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If you missed the Webinar, please click here to view the recording
Expert Insight Series: Dr. Peter Hotez: World-renowned Expert Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine and Global Impact
January 14, 2021
Since the beginning of the global pandemic, U.S. government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), through Operation Warp Speed, have been working in public/private partnerships to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as safely and logistically possible. The historic development of multiple vaccines with extremely high efficacy and rapid U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for emergency use has been nothing short of miraculous.
On January 14, the Bilateral Chamber hosted a webinar with Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development. In addition, Dr. Hotez is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine where he is also the Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. He is a regular commentator on CNN, BBC, CNBC, and FOX.
Topic of discussion included:
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- Overview of the COVID-19 Disease and Emerging Variant Strains
- Global COVID-19 Vaccines: Development, Efficacy, and Differences
- Global COVID-19 Immunization Rollout: Successes and Roadblocks
- Global Immunization: Different Vaccines and Protocols, Developing Herd Immunity
- Looking Forward to the New Normal in an Immunized World
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Please click on the link below to learn more about Dr. Hotez and Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development.
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Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development
The next webinar in the Expert Insight Series program will cover COVID-19 Vaccine: Distribution and Logistics, the Role of Airports, and other Key Supply-Chain Participants.
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If you missed the Webinar, please click here to view the recording
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Future Sector & Country-Focused Programs
Global Rebound 2021 Webinar Series |
For the remainder of 2021 and beyond, the Bilateral Chamber has planned Sector & Country-Specific Programming and Webinars in the Global Rebound 2021 Series which will expand upon the Ambassador and Expert Insight Series’ as well as include meaningful, timely, and topical programming in our unique and informative Leadership, Regional, Industry and Partnership Insight Series.
Between 2020 - 2040, there is a $4.6 trillion dollar investment gap between proposed projects and funding in the Indo-Pacific region alone. Similar infrastructure project investment gaps exist across the globe and multiple economic sectors.
Join us for a series of upcoming webinars featuring public and private financial resources available to help bridge the investment gap.
To learn more about this webinar series, please email us at programs@bilateralchamber.org, along with your specific interest and point of contact information.
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Future Procurement Opportunities Programs
Global Rebound 2021 Webinar Series |
For the remainder of 2021 and beyond, the Bilateral Chamber has planned a series of webinars focused on procurement and project opportunities as part of the Global Rebound 2021 Series. These events will highlight opportunities in the MENA region featuring ADNOC, Aramco, Qatar Petroleum, and Libya NOC, among others. Additional global regions will include Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Indo-Pacific, and Latin America and economic sectors spanning Energy, Aviation & Aerospace, Space Technology, Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology, and Digitalization.
For more information on how your company can participate in the upcoming Commercial Procurement Opportunities in a New Immunized World programs, please email us at programs@bilateralchamber.org, along with your specific interest and point of contact information.
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Promoting Bilateral Relationships and Trade
Through USTDA Missions
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As an official contractor for the United States Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce is pleased to continue this important initiative to organize Programs, Webinars, Business Briefings, Roundtables, and Reverse Trade Missions (RTMs) in support of USTDA’s efforts to promote U.S. exports and connect the U.S. private sector to infrastructure projects in global markets.
USTDA programs have facilitated $74 billion in U.S. exports and supported more than 4,000 infrastructure projects in 139 countries.
Stay tuned for specific program date announcements. If you have an interest in sponsorship or hosting opportunities, please email us at programs@bilateralchamber.org.
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The Bilateral Chamber will host a high-level delegation of Indo-Pacific region aviation security officials and airport representatives for a two week RTM. U.S. developments in aviation security checkpoint design and aviation security technologies will be showcased with the aim of facilitating meaningful business exchanges and commercial opportunities between the Indo-Pacific delegates and their U.S. counterparts.
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The Bilateral Chamber is pleased to host a series of RTMs from Southeast Asian civil aviation authorities, airport operators, air navigation service providers, airlines, or other aviation entities.
The RTMs are designed to familiarize each delegation with U.S. aviation technologies and best practices that could enhance airport and/or airline operations, air traffic management, and aviation safety, among other topics, particularly in light of changes to aviation necessitated by COVID‐19; and to support the U.S.‐Southeast Asia ACP by connecting U.S. industry and Southeast Asian aviation stakeholders. These RTMs will contribute to facilitating meaningful business exchanges and commercial opportunities between the Southeast Asian delegates and their U.S. counterparts.
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The Bilateral Chamber is pleased to host high-ranking officials from the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mining and Sonatrach for a Virtual Business Briefing and Reverse Trade Mission (RTM) to showcase advanced U.S. technology solutions in support of the Algerian government’s plans to modernize the country’s oil and gas sector. The Virtual Business Briefing and RTM will contribute to facilitating meaningful business exchanges and commercial infrastructure and procurement opportunities between the Algerian delegation and their U.S. counterparts.
Sonatrach is currently pursuing a 2030 Strategic Plan to generate an additional US$67 billion in revenue, half of which would be invested in the Algerian domestic economy and the other half in increasing production capacity, staff training, and new technologies in the oil and gas sector. Sonatrach has committed to maintaining its investment plans of US$18 – US$23 billion in annual outlays, focusing on upstream exploration and oil reservoir activities.
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The Bilateral Chamber is pleased to host high-ranking officials from Bangladeshi public and parastatal energy buyers and developers in a capacity-building Technical Exchange Program (TEP). The state‐owned oil and gas company, Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (“Petrobangla”), and the Government of Bangladesh have started to pursue LNG imports to address increasing energy demands in the country.
The TEP is designed to familiarize delegates with U.S. operational best practices for value‐based natural gas infrastructure planning and technical capacity building, as well as U.S. technologies in liquified natural gas (LNG) and gas‐related equipment and services. The TEP will contribute to facilitating meaningful business exchanges between the Bangladeshi delegates and their U.S. counterparts.
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The Indo-Pacific LNG Supply and Natural Gas Infrastructure RTMs will include delegates from Vietnam and Thailand respectively. The Bilateral Chamber will connect these high-level decision‐makers to U.S. gas infrastructure technologies and services, as well as policies, regulations, contracting, best-value procurement methods and lifecycle cost analysis, and financing mechanisms that can support the implementation of gas infrastructure projects in their markets.
In addition to 47 LNG regasification terminal projects targeting completion by 2023, another US$81 billion in investment is needed in LNG infrastructure by 2030 to meet demand in the Indo-Pacific region. These RTMs will contribute to facilitating meaningful business exchanges and commercial opportunities between the Vietnam and Thailand delegates and their U.S. counterparts.
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The Government of India’s transformative “Digital India” program objective is to advance India’s Digital Infrastructure and Financial Technology sector to securely improve e-governance, financial technology services, and internet connectivity throughout India. The Bilateral Chamber will introduce Indian decision-makers to U.S. technologies and services and highlight U.S. policies, regulations, and financing mechanisms that can support their “Digital India” program.
Through digitalization, the India Data Center market is expected to grow from US$2.2 billion to more than US$4.5 billion by 2025. Both RTMs will contribute to facilitating meaningful business exchanges and commercial opportunities between the Indian delegates and their U.S. counterparts.
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Public and private sector officials from Turkey’s Space Agency (TUA), TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK), private sector associations, and others will comprise this exciting and growing new sector for the Bilateral Chamber. The goal of the RTM is to showcase state-of-the-art U.S. satellite and telecommunications technologies, space-focused engineering programs, as well as policies and regulations that can support the development of Turkey’s space industry.
The TUA, a government agency within the Ministry of Science and Technology, was established in December 2018 by a Presidential decree to oversee the development of Turkey’s space industry. TUA is responsible for coordinating all space-related activities. TUA is also responsible for the development of a 10-year roadmap, which will outline Turkey’s space activities, including education and training.
TUA’s 2020 budget is approximately US$55 million with increased funding for 2021. As part of TUA’s strategy to engage leading U.S. companies to support the development of Turkey’s space industry, we are pleased to organize this USTDA sponsored Turkey Space Technologies RTM to the cities of Los Angeles, CA, Denver, CO, and Cape Canaveral, FL.
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Enhancing Strategic Partnerships that Produce
Successful Events |
Global Events and Platforms:
Special Thanks To:
Due to our long-standing partnerships with DMG Events, Kallman Worldwide, and other global partners, our members and stakeholders have access to some of the world’s most lucrative and notable platforms of business exchange including ADIPEC, GASTECH, EGYPS, Future Energy Asia, ARAB HEALTH, Dubai Airshow and more.
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| Bilateral Chamber Education Initiatives |
Advancing Cultural Understanding Through Teachers Educating Across Cultures In Harmony (TEACH) & Model Arab League (MAL)
Teachers Educating Across Cultures In Harmony (TEACH)
The Bilateral Chamber’s Teachers Educating Across Cultures in Harmony (TEACH) Fellowship was conceived to actively engage U.S. and MENA educators in capacity building initiatives to produce a new generation of leaders equipped to provide solutions to the world’s most pressing social and economic issues.
Over the past 12 years, U.S. Educators from 60 cities representing 31 U.S. states have received the Fellowship. In addition to the exchanged best practices and new relationships with their peers in the Middle East, the Fellows have also shared their experience with more than 40,000 U.S. students - changing the misguided perceptions of U.S. youth regarding the Middle East, Islam and Arab heritage.
Though our 2020 TEACH Fellowship to the Kingdom of Bahrain was postponed due to the pandemic, we are hopeful to execute a mission in Fall 2021 and offer a virtual TEACH experience for U.S. educators.
To get involved or learn more about how to participate, contact us at edu@bilateralchamber.org.
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Bilateral Model Arab League (MAL)
What is the Bilateral Model Arab League?
Similar to Model United Nations, Model Arab League (MAL) is a student leadership development program for high school and college students across the United States. Participating students represent their assigned country’s goals and foreign policy objectives thus increasing knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of the Arab World and its peoples.
The Bilateral Chamber, in partnership with the National Council on U.S. Arab Relations, hosts an annual MAL conference for University students every year in Houston, Texas. Over the years, our Bilateral Model Arab League Conference has attracted over 30 institutions from 7 different states.
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2021 Participating Schools from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas
Representing Countries
Top Left to Right: Palestine, Egypt, Syrian National Coalition, Oman, Iraq
Bottom Left to Right: Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Morocco
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For more information on how you can support our education initiatives, please send an email to edu@bilateralchamber.org.
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| Thank You to our President's Circle |
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