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CONTACT SCBJ John Wolcott, Editor jwolcott@scbj.com Dave Clark, Assistant Editor dclark@scbj.com

Dubai wants to be world hub

By John Wolcott

SCBJ Editor

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, who recently headed a 10-day trade delegation to the Untied Arab Emirates, found that country is interested in much more than Boeing airliners.

Reardon, who was asked by Boeing officials to head the trade group, presented some of his views last month at Everett Community College’s International Business Roundtable, which was co-hosted by the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce. With Reardon on the trip and the panel were Bill Stafford, president of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, and Kimberly Pastega, director of 777 manufacturing for Boeing’s Everett plant.

“It was amazing to see how modern and progressive the country is,” Reardon said. “Right now they have no need to expand their economic diversity but they know their rich oil supplies are due to run out in 20 years and they will need a diversified economy.

“They are planning for that now, focusing on developing increased education opportunities in their country but also seeking the world’s best educated and talented people from around the world.”

The United Arab Emirates is working to create and brand themselves as the Middle Eastern hub for trade and tourism, said Stafford, citing the country’s plans for an $82 billion project to built the world’s largest airport in the capital city, Dubai, and other projects.