member Saudi trade mission conducted road shows in five US states earlier this month to introduce new investment opportunities worth $2.3 trillion in oil, gas, petrochemicals, railways, water, electricity, desalination and other vital sectors. Al-Dabbagh's meetings with top executives of DuPont, a two-century old corporation, is significant as it puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Industrial sectors covered by DuPont include agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel. A multi-billion dollar company operating in more than 70 countries worldwide and employing 55,000 people globally, DuPont's 2004 revenues crossed $27 billion. Focused on its research and development projects, DuPont runs more than 40 R&D and customer service labs in the US, and more than 35 labs in 11 other countries. The Center for International Strategic Studies (CSIS), in cooperation with the Saudi Research & Marketing Group, held a conference to examine US-Saudi relations, in which Al-Dabbagh moderated a panel discussing future cooperation between the countries, the statement said. CSIS is a four-decade old academic organization that provides strategic insight and policy solutions to world leaders on current and emerging issues. With a board of directors chaired by former US Senator Sam Nunn, famous graduates such as former US Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Alexander Hague, CSIS is considered one of the premier thought leaders in national and international security policy. Al-Dabbagh also addressed a working luncheon organized by the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR). CFR members including foreign policy analysts, economists, chairmen and senior corporate leaders attended the event. The governor covered a range of topics including the SAGIA investment strategy and held a frank discussion with the CFR membership on US foreign policy. Since its establishment in April 2000, SAGIA has been working as a catalyst to promote inward investments. SAGIA issued licenses for 189 international and domestic investment projects worth SR24 billion ($6.4 billion) in the first quarter of this year. The figure was 828 percent higher than the investments secured by the country during the same period last year. Some of the new projects are vital joint ventures with international companies.
