U.S. Deputy Secretary Nides and U.S. Consul General Waller meet his Highness Muhammad bin Rashid and the Crown Prince of Dubai

U.S. Consul General Rob Waller, Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides, and His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at Opening Session of the Global Economic Summit, Dubai.

Deputy Secretary Nides and Consul General Waller speak with His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid and the Crown Prince of Dubai.

December 11-13, Dubai – Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides and U.S. Consul General Rob Waller met with His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum at the Opening Session of the Global Economic Summit in Dubai.  The Deputy Secretary and Consul General conveyed U.S. President Barack Obama’s greetings to the Emirati hosts and his expressed interest in fostering economic development and the advancement of entrepreneurship to create jobs and opportunities for all, including girls and women.  The senior U.S. diplomats emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as around the globe.  Thousands of participants attended the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, many of whom not only came from the Middle East and North Africa, but from different parts of the world.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General presented a video from President Obama in which he praised Dubai as a “City that speaks to what is possible for visionaries pursuing their dreams”.  The President called for exchange of programs for young people, empowerment of girls and women in the sciences and technology, and sustained economic growth.  He stressed the role of governments, the private sector, NGO’s, and academics to work together to strengthen the ties that bind us as peoples.