High-Level U.S. and Saudi Arabian Business, Government and Civic Leaders Gather in Chicago to Encourage Economic Collaboration and Promote Business Partnerships with U.S. Companies

CHICAGO, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- April 27-29, Chicago will host the U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum, which seeks to highlight Saudi Arabia's growing role in global financial and economic issues and the opportunities for greater economic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

A delegation of approximately 200 Saudi government and business leaders, including ministers of petroleum, commerce and industry, finance and education, will travel to Chicago for the event.

This first ever U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum will be a major platform for senior businesspeople, top U.S. and Saudi government officials and civic leaders to discuss not only the need for enhanced cooperation at the national level but also an opportunity for Chicago-based, Midwest and national companies to network with their Saudi counterparts to identify specific commercial and investment opportunities.

Saudi Arabia is the Arab world's largest economy and one of the fastest growing in the Middle East. As a member of the G20, Saudi Arabia is a working partner with the United States on critical global financial and economic issues. In addition, Saudi Arabia's economy is rapidly expanding and diversifying.

"Chicago has always been a world-renowned city, but today, our city is truly a key international gathering place," said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. "We are proud to host prominent leaders from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. to hold an unprecedented dialogue about how to best grow and strengthen this important international trade partnership."

Davos-style panels, keynote addresses and substantive breakout sessions will feature senior executives from U.S. companies successfully engaged in the Saudi market along with Saudi government and private sector experts in their fields. The sessions will cover various topics including: energy, finance and investment, agriculture and information technology.

Members of the Saudi delegation will also partake in three days of public outreach in the Chicago community, consisting of meetings with local organizations, academic institutions, religious leaders and local businesses, in an effort to expand business and cultural ties.

The Committee for International Trade (Saudi Chambers of Commerce) and the U.S. Saudi Arabian Business Council are the primary organizers of the Forum.  U.S. event partners include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Saudi event partners include the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Notable participants, speakers, panelists and moderators include:

• H.H. Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Al-Saud, Minister of Education
• His Excellency Abdullah Alireza, Saudi minister of commerce and industry
• His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Saudi minister of finance
• His Excellency Ali Al-Naimi, Saudi minister of petroleum and mineral resources
• His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaijri, chairman & CEO, Capital Market Authority
• Mayor Richard M. Daley
• William Daley, Midwest chairman, J.P. Morgan Chase
• Abdullah Al-Hamoudi, Saudi deputy minister for foreign trade
• The Honorable Robert Hormats, undersecretary, U.S. Department of State
• His Excellency Adel Al-Jubeir, ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the U.S.
• The Honorable Andre Winston Lewis, deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Education
• The Honorable Gary Locke, U.S. secretary of commerce
• The Honorable General James Smith, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
• Dr. Khaled Al-Sulaiman, Saudi deputy minister for industry
• Dr. Lama Al-Sulaiman, vice chairman, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• The Honorable Neal Wolin, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
• And high-level business leaders from such corporations as Caterpillar, the Boeing Company, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Fluor Corporation, Honeywell, Dow Chemical Company and others.

Panel discussions, keynote addresses and workshop topics will include:

• The U.S. and Saudi Arabia: A New Economic Order
• Global Energy Interdependence, Global Responsibilities
• Expanding U.S.-Saudi Trade in a Competitive World
• Strategies to Promote Economic Growth/Saudi Industrial Strategy
• Education: Saudi Arabia's Commitment to its Future
• Opportunities in Energy, Water and Electricity
• Meeting Saudi Arabia's Infrastructure Needs
• Opportunities in Downstream Petrochemicals
• Saudi Arabia's Agriculture Initiative
• Creating a Workforce for the Future
• Building a Knowledge-Based Society
• Finance and Investment
• Incentives for Trade and Investment

Chicago event partners include:

The Office of the Mayor of Chicago, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Economic Club of Chicago, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, U.S. Department of Commerce Chicago and Midwest Commercial Service Offices and World Business Chicago.

For more information, up-to-date program schedule and participant and sponsor lists and to register to attend the event, please visit www.us-saudiforum.com. $200 registration fee includes pre-conference reception, two-day conference, screening of the 3D IMAX film "ARABIA" and evening dinner.

SOURCE U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum