Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

The Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, World Trade Center Utah, and the World Trade Association of Utah are pleased to host Mr. Edward Burton, President and Managing Director of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Council (USSABC) to discuss the increasing demand for American products and know-how in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Please join us on: Thursday, June 7th for a discussion on Saudi Arabia: Taking Business Opportunities in the Middle East to the Next Level

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Location: Eagle Gate Tower (soon to be World Trade Center Utah), Suite 300, 60 East South Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT

Mr. Burton will discuss strategy and business opportunities for companies involved in aviation and aerospace, clean technology, architecture and construction, security, healthcare and life sciences, information and communication technologies, petrochemicals, power, water and wastewater treatment, traditional and alternative energy resources, and mining. Mr. Franz Kolb, Director of the Middle East and North Africa in the Governor's Office of Economic Development will also be presenting important factors on key issues for Utah companies involved in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Middle East and is also the largest market in the region for U.S. products and services. The country has been designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of six important "Next Tier" markets that hold increasing opportunities for American companies over next the 10 years.

Key economic factors include:

• $1.4 trillion in investment opportunities
• Top 20 destinations for FDI globally
• $385 billion public spending  for 2009-2013 Development Plan
• Ranked 12th in "Ease of Doing Business" by the World Bank

With an increasing importance of economic relations between the Middle East and Utah, many Middle Eastern countries have emerged to become significant markets for Utah companies. Saudi Arabia, considered the largest economy in the Middle East and the largest market in the region for U.S. products and services, has caught the attention of some Utah companies. "The Middle East has grown to be a an extremely important market for Utah companies," says Franz Kolb, Regional Director, Middle East North Africa (MENA) for the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development. "Exports to Saudi Arabia have grown 280 percent since 2006 and are expected to continue this trend." Such tremendous growth has raised questions as to what the future holds for this resource rich country and how to take advantage of future business opportunities.

More on Mr. Burton and the USSABC

As President and Managing Director of the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council, Mr. Burton works with leaders in both the public and private sectors to promote and strengthen the commercial and investment ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining the Business Council, Mr. Burton served as the Commercial Attaché at the American Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was appointed directly by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans to serve as the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Regional Coordinator for the agency's Iraq Reconstruction Regional Initiative.

The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council was established in December 1993 to improve the mutual knowledge and understanding between the private sectors of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and to promote trade and investment between the two countries. The Council's activities include trade missions, conferences and seminars, and high level networking events. The USSABC also offers a number of other business development services to help companies identify potential business partners and develop market strategies for increased U.S.-Saudi Commercial ties. For more information on the Business Council, please visit www.us-sabc.org.

Franz Kolb, Director - Middle East, Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development
Mr. Kolb is currently serving as a regional director for International Trade and Diplomacy in the state of Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development. He has significant experience in the MENA region, organizing trade missions and conferences in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Mr. Kolb is assisting Utah companies on a daily basis in their expansion through international growth. He has extensive experience in import & export operations, joint venture analysis, and international strategic planning.

Mr. Kolb was President of the Kolb Group, an international business consulting company specializing in international business development. His previous experience also include deputy director for the state of Utah's International Business Development Office, director of International Services of Ernst & Young, and president of an international business consulting firm which specialized in the high-tech industry.

For more information or to RSVP for this seminar, please contact Nate Lambson at nlambson@utah.gov. One-on-one meetings with Mr. Burton are available upon request. Space is limited.