1 USARTC SERVICES 2 UAE/USA FACTS 3 US AMBASSADOR 4 RECENT NEWS 5 INTERVIEW USARTC is a one-stop-shop that facilitates trade between U.S. companies, and Middle East & North Africa (MENA) regional buyers. The USARTC supports the U.S.National Export Initiative, U.S. businesses and American job creation and economic expansion. The USA Regional Trade Center (USARTC) is a one-stop-shop that facilitates trade between U.S. companies, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Middle East & North Africa (MENA) regional buyers. With offices in Dublin (Ohio, USA) and Sharjah, (UAE), the USARTC brings business services and opportunities together that provide innovative and cost-effective solutions for U.S. companies desiring to expand their business to the MENA region. The USARTC lowers the barriers to entry by providing a portal through which U.S. companies can explore the market and establish a presence in the region. Whether a U.S. Company is currently exporting or considering exporting to the MENA region, the USARTC can help showcase its products, services and technology offerings by providing exhibition space, communication and office solutions; business services including logistics, import/export and partnering solutions. The center also offers numerous opportunities for exposure in the MENA marketplace via business events, seminars, training opportunities and trade mission participation. The USARTC supports the National Export Initiative, U.S. businesses and American job creation and economic expansion by providing the facilities and services needed to remove the obstacles to trade.
02 USARTC SERVICES / UAE/USA FACTS Facility The USARTC is 52,000 square feet of office and commercial space in a modern office building with all of the amenities expected of a world-class business center. The USARTC is situated on the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry City Expo Complex, and is minutes from both Dubai and Sharjah International Airports. Exhibit The USARTC has 9,000 square feet of premium retail exhibition space for displaying products and services on a quarterly, semi -annually or yearly basis; the USARTC provides U.S. companies with ideal exposure to MENA regional buyers. Options include brochure/information stands, flat screen televisions for product demonstrations/videos and personnel trained to answer questions regarding the exhibit in addition to designing and installing the exhibition stand. Serviced Office Solutions The Center offers furnished offices ranging in size from 150 square feet to a large 440 square feet executive office. Our serviced office package includes a dedicated phone line, a dedicated address, and secretarial service in addition to all of the amenities expected such as; a copy center, conference facility and reception area which gives US companies the opportunity to easily and cost effectively establish an international office with a prestigious address in the USARTC. Serviced offices are available quarterly, semi-annually or yearly. Virtual Office Solutions For companies not requiring a physical office, the USARTC can provide a virtual office solution in order to establish a professional international presence. Included with a virtual office package are a dedicated telephone number, call answering, and call forwarding to a personal voicemail. Email, shared fax, use of the USARTC address and mail collection are other services we offer. Several package options are available based on services required. your company with obtaining a trade license anywhere in the UAE and MENA region. Hosting Services Host an exhibition, trade delegation or conference at the USARTC we are offering state of the art amenities including a conference room that can be used for meetings, presentations, seminars, and training courses. It is furnished with a large flat-panel television, 2 overhead large-screen projectors, whiteboards, and Business Services flip-charts in addition to wireless high-speed internet connection, USARTC is also offering consultancy services for all aspects video-conferencing, and telephone/ fax facilities. The conference room of conducting business in the will be available to our serviced region. and virtual office clients, as The Center has a broad network well as to companies exhibiting of expertise available and can on the ground floor level. It is provide business development available per hour, daily, or weekly consulting services, legal advice, depending on the specific needs of sponsorship, representation and agency services as well as to assist our clients. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in brief The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. Capital Total Area Location Climate National Day Religion Official Language Time Currency Population Abu Dhabi 83600 km² (including islands) The UAE is bordered by the Arabian Gulf in the north, Oman and the Gulf in the East, Oman and Saudi Arabia in the south and Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the west. UAE is warm and sunny in winter and hot and humid during the summer months. Winter daytime temperatures average a very pleasant 26 C, although nights can be relatively cool, between 12 15 C. Summer temperatures are in the mid-40s, but can be higher inland. 2 December Islam Arabic + English ( Business ) GMT + 4 Dirham ($1=AED 3.675) 8,200,000 UAE-USA Trade Exchange Volume The UAE has been the Arab world s leading importer of U.S. goods and services for the past five years, importing over $11.64 billion in U.S. goods and services in 2010. In 2011, total trade between the UAE and US was valued at over $18 billion, a 43 percent increase over the previous year. More than 800 US companies have a presence in Dubai and the UAE. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Emirates planned investment in American industry is expected to support skilled jobs in more than a dozen states and impact over 250,000 direct and indirect American jobs. Emirates Airlines employs over 700 Americans globally and has placed an order for fifty Boeing 777-300ERs for a record-breaking $24 billion. US exports to the region in 2010 were approximately $ 78.39 B USD. It is expected that US exports to the region will reach $117 B USD by the end of 2013.
03 US AMBASSADOR VISITS US Ambassador visits USA Regional Trade Center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to emphasize US Embassy support. The US Embassy and the American Consulate support the initiatives made by the USA Regional Trade Center and we are looking forward to their success and to more American companies coming to United Arab Emirates. Mr. J. Solaiman, USARTC CEO, welcoming Mr. Corbin outside the center The United States Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Michael Corbin, visited the USA Regional Trade Center (USARTC) for a tour of the facility and discussed with Mr. J.S Solaiman the USARTC s role in creating business opportunities for US companies. Ambassador Corbin was accompanied by Mr. Robert Bannerman, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate, Dubai; and Mr. Jude Ahkidenor, Agriculture Attaché. The Ambassador met with the USARTC team and reiterated the US Embassy s support of the Center s goals to create new business opportunities for US companies in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and to increase bi-lateral trade between the US and UAE. During the visit, Ambassador Corbin toured the USARTC facility and received a briefing about the Center s current exhibition featuring the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA), and its future exhibitions including; GE Mubadala Finance, Boeing, Parsons, Northrop Grumman and Jelly Belly all of which will demonstrate the strength of US products and services in the region. The US Embassy and the American Consulate support the initiatives made by the USA Regional Trade Center and we are looking forward to their success and to more American companies coming to United Arab Emirates. said Ambassador Corbin. The press release link.
04 RECENT NEWS Meeting Glenn Jackman, Textiles & Apparel Director, International Trade Division from the Department of Commerce for the State of North Carolina. The USA Regional Trade Center welcomed Mr. Glenn Jackman, Director, Textiles & Apparel, International Trade Division from the Department of Commerce for the State of North Carolina and his son Blake Jackman, during their visit to the UAE for the Hotel Show, the largest hospitality exhibition venue in the Middle East. Mr. Jackman and Kim Childs, Vice President of the USARTC discussed mutual areas of cooperation including establishing a regional office for the State of North Carolina, as well as organizing trade missions for North Carolina companies in the Fall and 2013. USARTC at SEMA Business Development Conference The U.S.A. Regional Trade Center participated in the SEMA Business Development Conference, in Abu Dhabi, UAE on April 17th. The USARTC was represented by Kim Childs, Vice President. The Conference was sponsored by SEMA and the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, and in attendance were senior executives from the specialty accessories automotive industry as well as U.S. commercial officers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. The press release link USARTC Support NYU-AD Information Session in Sharjah New York University Abu Dhabi had organized an informal information session in Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Al Barajeel Hall on June 25th. This was to give an overview of NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi and American liberal artsstyle undergraduate colleges and how they fit with popular professional programs (business, law, medicine), in addition to the factors international students should pay attention to when evaluating American university options. USARTC and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry demonstrated their maximum support by providing free of charge venue in addition to all needed facilities support.
05 Interview Q&A USA Regional Trade Center Responses attributable to Ronald Herman, Chief Executive Officer, Mubadala GE Capital PJSC Ron Herman, Chief Executive Officer, Mubadala GE Capital PJSC 1. Since establishing the Joint Venture between Mubadala and GE in 2010, Mubadala GE Capital (MGEC) has grown substantially over the last couple of years. What are your expectations for the next 3 years? Mubadala GE Capital was established to provide specialised financing solutions to SMEs and large corporations in order to meet regional development needs in the Middle East, Africa & Turkey, and we have been enormously successful regarding this aim over the past few years. Our success has been based on offering highly specialised financing solutions, and by focusing on growth industries. Given our strong capital base, expertise and the regional
06 Interview presence of our shareholders, we believe that we are uniquely positioned for success over the long-term. 2. What do you regard as the major successes for MGEC to date? Mubadala GE Capital has enjoyed exceptional success since beginning operations, concluding over 120 deals globally and regionally with no defaults. By any measure, the coming together of two great organsiations in Mubadala and General Electric has been remarkably successful, and the resulting company, Mubadala GE Capital, has succeeded in gaining an enormous amount of experience and expertise in a relatively short period of time. Equally satisfying has been the meaningful contribution we have been able to make to the professional development of our locally based staff. Nearly onequarter of MGEC s investment professionals are UAE Nationals and, furthermore, we were proud recently to be able to graduate seven young professionals from the GE Global Leadership Program. 3. What makes MGEC different from other financial solutions provider companies? MGEC brings together two world-class organisations with best-in-class origination, risk management capabilities and industry expertise. Both our parent companies are rated AA by Standard & Poor s, so our financial strength is truly exceptional. We have also invested heavily in creating a world-class team of investment professionals who bring to MGEC an enormous breadth of skills and experience. 4. As you know, the world suffered a real financial crisis in 2008. What does a financial crisis mean for a financial solutions company? Our core markets were less severely impacted by the global financial crisis. During a period when access to deal flow was much more limited, raising capital more challenging than during any time in the recent past, and exit opportunities few and far between, we have seen a greater emphasis on sustainability and increased requirements for transparency and accountability. The longterm impact of the global financial crisis is to have added a new set of variables to consider in the valuation process. 5. Are there specific criteria for the companies that MGEC provides venture capital / financing such as size, years in business, etc.? MGEC deploys capital in key sectors through a strategic twopillar approach. Firstly, building and growing a commercial finance platform throughout the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) region. Second, we seek to invest in opportunities generated through GE Capital s existing global origination platform. We focus on corporate finance solutions to middle-market private-sector companies; acquisition finance to private equity houses and strategic buyers to support leveraged buyouts and growth capital; financing business jets for regional corporates; equipment financing solutions, from heavy industry to manufacturing plants; SME financing through established vendor and equipment distributors; and investments in energy, power and water across the META region. 6. Does MGEC offer business opportunities/ leads in addition to financial solutions? Our primary focus is to provide lending and leasing solutions to private-sector companies, as well as making strategic equity investments in power and water assets across the META region. SMEs are a particular area of focus for MGEC and the company has built a dedicated team to service their needs. 7. What do you think of the USA Regional Trade Center concept? The USA Regional Trade Center can play an important role in enabling US SMEs to identify and realise opportunities in the UAE. Creating strategic relationships with multiple organizations and associations. 8. What particular aspects of the USA Regional Trade Center do you feel are the most beneficial? By raising awareness of the incredible opportunities open to SMEs in the Middle East, the USA Regional Trade Center can help to grow this strategically important sector of the economy. 9-What can MGEC offer USA Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) who will be joining the USA Regional Trade Centre? Where customers have an existing relationship with GE in the US or other parts of the world MGEC is able to leverage off the existing relationship and support their local UAE operations. US businesses will find MGEC s business values and processes to be aligned to those of GE, with the benefit of local UAE business knowledge and the added value of the Blue Chip shareholder Mubadala Development Company We have existing close relationships with leading heavy equipment and transportation asset distributors and are able to provide both introductions and financing support for customer acquiring such assets. MGEC is very comfortable with structuring deals in the local market and can provide practical support and advice. 10-Do you have any specific advice/tips you would like to share for USA SME s who are considering new business opportunities in the Middle East? Do your homework on the local market and opportunity before committing to establishing locally. The Middle East provides a great business opportunity with the UAE being very strategically placed to serve as a hub for operating in the region. Determine, in detail, the route to market understanding whether it is necessary to engage a local shareholder and / or distributor. Exercise care in the selection of a partners as it will directly impact your local success. Be sure to engage expert advice from legal and audit firms to ensure the optimal structures is adopted from the outset. Finally get out and engage with the market and your customers, learn the local business practices remembering that what works elsewhere cannot always just be dropped into a new market! About Mubadala GE Capital Mubadala GE Capital PJSC is a specialized commercial finance company based in United Arab Emirates, which offers financial solutions to help businesses grow in rapidly evolving economic environments. We are a joint venture between Mubadala Development Company PJSC (Mubadala) and General Electric Capital Corporation (GE) and are headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Products offered by the company include commercial lending and leasing solutions plus we also do equity investments. The sectors we focus on are based on regional developments needs of the Middle East, Africa and & Turkey where both Mubadala and GE has deep domain industry experience. These include power & water, oil & gas, healthcare, industry & manufacturing, transportation, aerospace and infrastructure we had a great opportunity to interview Mr. Ronald Herman the CEO of Mubadala GE Capital.