Her Excellency Amna Binzaal Almheiri, UAE Consul General in New York, visited Albany in upstate New York. During her visit, Consul General Almheiri met with key political and business stakeholders and other partners to build on existing strong ties and encourage increased trade and economic and cultural cooperation.
Her Excellency emphasized the depth of relations between the UAE and the United States and New York State, noting that the US is one of the important and strategic allies of the UAE, sharing common interests, and working together to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields.
As part of her visit, Consul General Almheiri met with State Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly woman Carrie Woerner, in addition to other members of the Senate. During these meetings, she reiterated the UAE’s commitment to further strengthening its relationship with the US and New York and discussed opportunities to continue to expand economic and cultural ties.
Consul General Almheiri was also introduced and welcomed onto the floor of the New York State Senate by Senator Kevin Thomas, who praised the UAE’s leadership in areas such as empowering entrepreneurs and advancing the transition to clean energy and acknowledged the partnership and friendship between the UAE, the US and New York.
Additionally, Consul General Almheiri met with Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman to discuss how to further expand the UAE’s longstanding collaboration with the Special Olympics and continue promoting inclusivity for people of determination. The Special Olympics World Games were hosted in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
At the conclusion of the visit, Her Excellency Almheiri attended a dinner hosted by President and CEO of the Center for Economic Growth and the Capital Region Chamber Mark Eagan, and members of the delegation that visited the UAE in 2019, Mayor of Schenectady Gary R. McCarthy, where discussions focused on the partnerships established between the two countries and ways to increase joint cooperation with the UAE.
New York is home to the largest US port for state exports to the UAE that have totaled USD 2.3 billion last year. The Capital Region is also home to Global Foundries, a portfolio company of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company.