For Immediate Release: April 18, 2012
Contact: Mara Lee (202) 482-3809
Commerce Trade Official Concludes Successful Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia – U.S. Commerce Department Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services Nicole Lamb-Hale today concluded a week-long clean energy and energy efficiency trade mission to Saudi Arabia. Lamb-Hale was joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Ex-Im Bank, and 13 U.S. businesses from the solar, green building, smart grid and energy efficiency sectors seeking to help Saudi Arabia meet its renewable energy and energy efficiency goals.
“Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons for power generation,” Lamb-Hale said. “I am proud to say that this trade mission has been successful in promoting the export of U.S. goods and services in order to help achieve Saudi clean energy and energy efficiency goals. It’s a win-win situation for both the Saudi people and American workers.”
Saudi Arabia has identified an urgent need to reduce its reliance on petroleum-generated power. Currently, 60 percent of Saudi power needs are met from petroleum. As a result, Saudi Arabia is focused on developing alternative energy sources and promoting energy efficiency. The Saudi government has committed to an investment of $100 billion during the next 10 years to develop clean, non-hydrocarbon sources, focused on nuclear and solar technologies.
Trade mission participants met with senior Saudi government officials and private-sector representatives. Events included one-on-one meetings, roundtables, and matchmaking sessions in both Riyadh and Dhahran.
Additionally, Lamb-Hale attended a Women’s Business Roundtable hosted by the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in Riyadh. There, Lamb-Hale emphasized the importance of strengthening commercial relationships between U.S. businesses and Saudi entrepreneurs, in coordination with the expansion of our overall bilateral ties.
“Increased Saudi-U.S. commercial cooperation is essential to creating long-term business opportunities for U.S. companies,” added Lamb-Hale. “As the largest economy in the Middle East, bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia provides lucrative opportunities for U.S. companies that offer products and services for clean energy and energy efficiency.”
For additional information, please visit www.export.gov/trademissions and http://www.trade.gov/saudiarabia/.
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