On December 8-12, 2019, the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC) is set to lead a Certified Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce. General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and Dammam Airports Company (DACO) are Supporting Partners of the mission. Saudia, the national airline, is the Official Carrier of the mission. This is the 49th mission that the USSABC has organized since its establishment in 1993. Visiting Saudi Arabia's three major aviation hubs of Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah, the U.S. mission delegates aim to learn more about the Saudi market and discuss opportunities for partnerships. Of significance, the mission facilitates an opportunity to exchange views on global aviation and learn from the experience of John Selden, General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest and most efficient airport in the world; Sean Donohue, CEO, DallasFort Worth International Airport, the world's fourth busiest airport by aircraft movements; Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the eighth busiest in the U.S.; and Spencer Dickerson, Senior Executive Vice President, Global Operations, AAAE, the world's largest professional organization for airport executives. Collectively, these airports handled over 220 million travelers in 2018. These executives run multibillion-dollar projects to upgrade infrastructure, enhance customer experience, and upskill workforce at their airports. Moreover, Sean Donohue also serves on the executive committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council, an organization that represents the travel and tourism private sector globally. In addition, the mission aims to introduce 11 U.S. manufacturers and service providers such as architecture, air traffic management, airport traffic forecasting, planning, and checkpoint services, civil aviation security solutions, airport safety and operational software, security screening, threat assessment, cargo systems, cooling towers, engineering, and air transport communications services to business opportunities in the Saudi market. In the Eastern Province, the delegation will meet with the leadership of DACO and King Fahd International Airport, in addition to Asharqia Chamber and Saudi private sector companies. The companies will then travel to Riyadh for meetings with GACA, the Saudi Civil Aviation Holding Company, Riyadh Airports Company, King Khalid International Airport, and Riyadh Chamber as well as Saudi private sector. The mission will close in Jeddah with visits to the Jeddah Airport Company, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah Chamber, and private sector companies. Abdallah Jum'ah, Saudi Co-Chairman of the Council and Former CEO of Saudi Aramco offered the following comment on the incoming mission. "The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council is looking forward to hosting this delegation and is eager to advance Saudi Arabia's role as a leading transportation hub, connecting key commercial markets from the United States and Middle East." H. Delano Roosevelt, who was recently appointed as Council President and CEO, added, "Having lived in the Gulf region for 15 years, I know firsthand the importance of a modern aviation sector in terms of both management and infrastructure. I am confident that this trade mission will establish lasting U.S.-Saudi relationships that will enhance Saudi Arabia's position as a global center for transportation and logistics services." Mission delegate Chad Arruda, Founder/Partner of Windom Security Strategies Today, said, "Windom Security Strategies Today looks forward to working with both private and government partners in Saudi Arabia as it continues to develop and diversify its economy and society. From airport security and other critical infrastructures, threat reduction, to providing VIP personal guard services to private businesspeople and entertainers, Windom offers innovative and unique solutions for the Saudi market." Fellow mission delegate Dr. Enrique Segura, President and CEO, Securiport added, "Securiport is eager to participate actively in Saudi Arabia's accelerating economic development and diversification under Vision 2030, and all the new business opportunities that are being created. As Saudi Arabia continues to transform itself into the engine of economic growth in the region and beyond, we hope to partner with Saudi Arabia on innovative technology and data-driven solutions to spur further economic growth." With 27 airports and more than 91 million passengers per year, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation sector is growing at a rapid pace. The Kingdom's plans for the sector under Vision 2030 include privatizing and expanding Saudi airports, improving the airport experience for passengers, developing digital infrastructure, and increasing workforce productivity. There are also plans for new cargo terminals, multimodal cargo villages, and hubs. These plans will help meet Saudi Arabia's goal to increase the number of international and domestic visits to 100 million annually by 2030.
