The UAE Consul-General in New York, Ms. Amna Almheiri, recently met with senior New Jersey state officials to highlight trade and investment opportunities in the UAE and to underline the strong business and cultural ties between the UAE and New Jersey.
Earlier this week, the UAE Consul-General had met with New Jersey Secretary of State Ms. Tahesha Way and senior leaders from Choose New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the New Jersey-Israel Commission.
During the meeting, Ms. Almheiri emphasized the importance of strong trade ties between New Jersey and the UAE and stated that trade was a key driver of economic growth. In 2020, New Jersey exported more than $752 million worth of goods and services to the UAE, becoming the seventh-largest exporter to the UAE in all 50 states that year.
The UAE Consul-General also noted that the UAE is the best trading partner in the MENA region for 13 consecutive years, with total bilateral trade surpassing $23 billion in 2021. From agri-tech and healthcare to manufacturing and logistics, the UAE’s financial enterprises and infrastructure make it an ideal place to do business.
Ms. Almheiri remarked that the historic Abrahamic Accords had created new opportunities and a major stimulus for further growth and development.
The Consul-General further added that “From expanding business ties across numerous sectors to deepening engagement with New Jersey’s communities, the UAE-New Jersey relationship is only growing. It is friendships like this that make the UAE’s bilateral partnership with the United States so dynamic and strong.”
During the “Garden State” visit, Ms. Almheiri also met with senior executives at AeroFarms, a leader in New Jersey-based indoor vertical farming. Focusing on the latest developments in indoor vertical farming, innovation, and agri-tech, AeroFarms AgX, a wholly-owned UAE subsidiary of AeroFarms has started construction of a state-of-the-art research center in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Ms. Tahesha Way stated that “It was an honor to welcome the UAE Consul-General Almheiri to Trenton yesterday during her first visit to New Jersey, especially as a fellow female leader during Women’s History Month. Our common desire to further trade, tourism, cultural cooperation, and more shows that there is a bright future between our state and the UAE.”
The support provided by UAE organizations in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 is an example of the long-standing friendship between the UAE and New Jersey. The UAE became a partner in New Jersey’s recovery, by helping dozens of schools in affected communities to upgrade their facilities and IT equipment, sending volunteers to New Jersey from the UAE to help with cleanup and debris removal in hard-hit areas, and providing community soccer fields for storm-impacted communities around the state.
