Читать книгу Business and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia - Burton Edward - Страница 6

Without the trust and mutual respect I enjoy within the Saudi and American business communities, this book would not have been written. It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude that I acknowledge the comity and collegial interaction I continue to enjoy with the many Saudi and American owners, principals, senior executives, and entrepreneurs of companies of all sizes, histories of operations, and sectors. I would also like to acknowledge the U.S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC), its co-chairmen, Mr. Abdallah Jum'ah, USSABC Saudi co-chairman, and former chief executive officer and vice chairman of Saudi Aramco, and Mr. Peter J. Robertson, USSABC U.S. co-chairman and former vice chairman of the board of Chevron Corporation, as well as the entire USSABC board of directors. I would also like to thank the USSABC executive directors: Ms. Susanne Lendman, executive director and chief of staff in our U.S. office, and Dr. Basheer Al-Ghuraydh, secretary general and executive director of the USSABC Riyadh office and recent member of the Majlis Ash Shoura.

The U.S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council was established in December 1993 to improve the mutual knowledge and understanding between the private sectors of the United States and Saudi Arabia, and to promote bilateral trade and investment. Throughout its 20-year history, and with its office in Riyadh, our Business Council has been known as the premier U.S. – based bilateral business promotion entity working within the Saudi and American business communities, advancing the interests of its companies. Through the outstanding leadership of its co-chairmen and board of directors, and extensive market knowledge and experience of its staff, the USSABC facilitated thousands of business connections and successful business transactions between U.S. and Saudi firms.

I would like to extend a heartfelt word of thanks to Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Quraishi, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, chairman of the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry, as well as his brother, Mr. Khalid Al-Zamil, who I am proud and fortunate to have as a member of the USSABC board of directors, for the support and encouragement they have given me during this entire endeavor. They have given up some of their time to offer me advice and their thoughts on some of this book's subject matter. Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Quraishi especially has helped with offering his suggestions and recommendations for improvements to some portions of my manuscript. Given the importance and stature of all of them in the Kingdom, their willingness to support this project has great value to its objectives. I offer a special thanks to Mr. Richard Debs, advisory director of Morgan Stanley, member of its international advisory board, and chairman of Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia, for his invaluable encouragement to me in this project and commentary on my manuscript. And, a special thanks to Lyn Doverspike for her encouragement and support.