Baker joins U.S. trade mission to the Middle East

PITTSBURGH, PA, USA – Global engineering and consulting firm, Michael Baker International, is among companies who have joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on a business development trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Qatar from March 8 to 14. The U.S. trade mission is specifically focused on promoting development within the infrastructure sector in these three countries.

“The fact is that 95% of customers worldwide live outside U.S. borders, and that is why promoting export is essential to our economic growth and job creation,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The three countries we are visiting on our trade mission to the Gulf Region are among the top 50 export markets for the United States. Since the launch of the National Export Initiative in 2010, exports have increased 111% to the United Arab Emirates, 65% to Saudi Arabia, and 57% to Qatar. Clearly, the Gulf region is a critical area of focus for our nation and its businesses.”

The mission includes some of the nation’s top engineering, architectural and energy firms and will specifically focus on areas such as project management and engineering (including construction, architecture and design), renewable energy (solar, wind, waste-to-energy), smart grid and energy efficiency, and environmental technologies (including water/wastewater, air pollution control, and waste management). The week-long trip will provide delegates the opportunity to establish and strengthen relationships with their counterparts and discuss ways to bring innovative solutions to an increasing number of infrastructure projects in the region.

“This is the first trade mission led by a U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Gulf region in fifteen years,” said Kurt Bergman, Baker CEO. “We are honored to be part of a delegation focused on such important allies and trading partners. We look forward to being able to bring our unique and diverse portfolio of architecture, engineering, project management, environmental technology experience and global innovative solutions to our existing partnerships in the region as well as to the new relationships this mission will help us establish.”

Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in over 90 offices located across the U.S. and internationally.