Secretary Geithner is visiting Abu Dhabi as part of a week-long trip also including visits to England; Saudi Arabia and, France. One of the objectives for Secretary Geithner on his visit to the Gulf is to further evaluate the contribution and significance of education within the framework of economic growth and sustainability.

The event brought together a dozen people representing the UAE’s economy, trade and education sectors. Attendees included Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State; Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Masdar Initiative and Head of Aldar Academies and Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development.

The morning’s discussion took in other topics including the vision and strategy of creating a knowledge-based economy, aligning the education sector with development goals, the challenges in meeting future needs in talent and labour as well as the role of women and young people in a country’s economic development.

This morning’s open dialogue provided Secretary Geithner and the UAE representatives with the opportunity to share views on the priorities and commitments of both the United States and the UAE, regarding the importance of developing a highly-educated work force within the context of sustainable economic growth.

“The UAE is one of the world’s most open and dynamic economies,” said Sheikha Lubna Al-Qassimi.

“The UAE’s future sustainable economic growth will be derived from a concerted effort to develop and harness human capital. Education is therefore a fundamental economic policy pillar.

“This commitment to education has resulted in highly effective collaborative relationships with first-rate, American institutions, such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University.”

The strong UAE-US relations are clearly demonstrated in the 750 U.S companies operating in the UAE which, besides being the major regional destination for US exports, hosts 30000 American citizens, according to Al-Qassimi.

“Just one month ago, President Obama reminded us that we must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21^st century,” said Secretary Geithner.

“The group we have here with us today embodies that reality. It is conversations like this that move us one step closer to the President’s commitment to deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world,” Geithner added.