Dubai, Phoenix to sign trade pact
May 8th, 2009Phoenix Business Journal
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 11:05am MST
The city of Phoenix and the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai are signing a trade, transport and solar energy pact Wednesday.
The agreement has been in the works since last year and includes promise to promote trade, develop solar energy sources in both places and to try to bring direct commercial flights between Dubai and Phoenix.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will sign the pact with Dubai officials Wednesday in downtown Phoenix. Gordon has led the Dubai effort, including visiting their with business executives. Cash-rich Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates. It is a financial center in the Middle East and tends to have very Western business practices.
There is also hope the Dubai will invest in the Valley economy including real estate, energy and businesses. Arizona State University president Michael Crow has also been part of Phoenix’s Dubai efforts and the pact includes provisions for university research and resources exchanges.
