This week I will be attending the Annual Investment Forum in Dubai. As has been highlighted by the organizers AIM 2012 accomplished concrete and tangible results as sizeable transactions were realized translating into millions of dollars of new development projects and an array of newly concluded MoUs and cooperation agreements. In my own experience as both the Executive Director of the Global Center for Development and Democracy, a group of 21 former Presidents primarily from Latin America under the leadership of President Alejandro Toledo as well as having working with the United Nations University under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Noor in Amman Jordan, I firmly believe that there is ample opportunity to increase trade and investment between Latin America and the Middle East. This is something I highlighted as Member of the Obama National Leadership Council in the 2008 Presidential Campaign. The AIM Forum will serve the purpose of promoting trade and investment. I think an important element of this year’s forum will be the expansion of further trade between the Middle East and Brazil. Indeed, Brazil is currently undergoing rapid development and its infrastrucuture needs are quite vast which represents an opportunity for investors. Ripe opportunities include the upcoming Confederation Cup, World Cup, Olympics, the construction of high speed rail, the expansion of its Air and Sea Ports and visit by the Pope. The upcoming discussions in the UAE with the participation of so many Trade Ministers and Business Leaders will provide a unique venue to interchange ideas on leveraging technology and know-how including greater access to capital and additional injections of liquidity in the market, engineering and construction expertise and the replication of state of the art projects such as the rapid development of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Latin American Delegations will look to the UAE as partners in development and I think this is a major point that will be highlighted both during the formal conference and sessions as well as the bilateral meetings between the Trade Ministers. I think the economic, commercial and business linkages and outcomes of this conference can be positively leveraged for all concerned. I will be sharing my insights this week as the meetings unfold.
Barry Featherman
Washington Notebook
Barry Featherman 