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The 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) is underway now in New York City through September 30th.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is on the ground in New York hosting two dozen events, bilateral meetings, roundtables, report launches, and more on the sidelines of UNGA—including 11 direct engagements with heads of state or government. These meetings present the opportunity to discuss priority issues between the business community and world leaders, and demonstrate how American business is at the heart of solving some of the world’s most pressing geopolitical and socio-economic challenges.
By the Numbers
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19
The total number of events the Chamber has hosted so far on the periphery of UNGA.
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11
The number of events that have included a Head of State or Government. They include Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, and Vietnam’s President To Lam.
Follow @chamberglobal on X for updates.
Energy Roundtable with President Zelenskyy
The Chamber on Monday hosted four Heads of State, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for a public-private sector roundtable focused on meeting Ukraine’s immediate energy needs and ensuring Ukraine’s long-term energy security. The roundtable built on U.S. Chamber efforts to realize a peaceful, prosperous Ukraine through the Ukraine Business Initiative, dedicated to facilitating American companies’ engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction and modernization after victory is won.
As our Board of Directors Chair Mark Ordan said, “U.S. support for Ukraine is not philanthropy; it's an investment in U.S. economic and national security, and in the fate of global democracy. Ukraine has the long-term potential to become a pillar of Europe’s energy security through natural gas, oil reserves, hydrogen, and renewable energy. Realizing this potential is only possible with private-sector partnership. The challenges ahead are vast, but so are the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the commitment of the U.S. business community.”
CEO Roundtable with President Erdoğan
Chamber President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark, along with the Chamber’s U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, led by Chairman Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and top Ministers on Monday about Türkiye’s economic reforms, positive developments in the U.S.-Türkiye relationship, and ongoing projects in finance, defense, aviation, manufacturing, energy, climate, and digital transformation.
President Erdoğan spoke to the growing connectivity between the U.S. and Turkish economies, especially in energy and aviation and defense partnerships, Türkiye’s new large-scale investment incentives program looking to attract high-technology investments, and the combined strengths of U.S. and Turkish companies to develop more strategic projects across Central Asia and Africa.
“Over the past year and a half, Türkiye has implemented significant macroeconomic reforms that will enable not just an economic recovery, but a resurgence,” said Clark. “Our nations’ shared goal of $100 billion in two-way trade is within reach, and together, we have the chance to not only witness this new economic era, but to help write this new chapter.”
Executive Roundtable with Vice President of Nigeria
The Chamber's U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) hosted the Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima for a business roundtable focused on economic and regulatory strategies bolstering U.S.-Nigeria commercial ties and showcasing the formal launch of the Chamber’s new U.S.-Nigeria Business Initiative.
Describing his country as “[having] unrivaled investment opportunities, and strategically positioned as the gateway to the African market,” Vice President Shettima declared, “The take-away for all of you is there is a paradigm shift in Nigerian business climate. Nigeria is now open for business.”
“Nigeria’s bold economic reform agenda, advancing under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, continues to enhance U.S. investor confidence and attract more private investment to Africa’s largest democracy,” said Kendra Gaither, President of the USAfBC.
Business Roundtable with Vietnam General Secretary and President To Lam
The Chamber co-hosted a business roundtable and dialogue with the President of Vietnam To Lam. During the event, he emphasized Vietnam’s desire to attract American investment and promote greater innovation in Vietnam’s economy. U.S.-Vietnam trade has more than doubled over the past five years to $124 billion.
Charles Freeman, the U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President for Asia, said, “We expect that our economic integration will only deepen in the months and years ahead, and it is vital that we are in constant conversation in order to realize opportunities, but also to address challenges as they arise – as they inevitably will.” Among other areas, Vietnam plays an increasingly vital role in the supply chains of many U.S. companies. “We are eager to find a way forward on critical minerals cooperation and maximize the benefits of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity,” Freeman added.
Roundtable Discussion with Colombian President Gustavo Petro
The U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-Colombia Business Council hosted a roundtable discussion with Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro. President Petro highlighted opportunities for Colombia to grow its bioeconomy and stressed the importance of a transition from fossil fuel towards clean energy sources. As result of the meeting, the U.S. Chamber and AmCham Colombia will collaborate with the President's team to lead a U.S. private sector delegation to the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16).
The Chamber continued its engagement with the Petro Administration, hosting the AI and Cybersecurity Leadership Dialogue and signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Colombia’s Information and Communication Technologies Ministry to enhance collaboration, especially in digital education, the promotion of e-commerce, the protection of intellectual property, and improving rural connectivity.
Roundtable with Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus
The Chamber’s U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council hosted an industry roundtable with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Chief Advisor Yunus was joined by Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain and Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Advisor Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan. The U.S. government was represented by Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoff Pyatt. The roundtable featured over forty executives representing many American and Bangladeshi companies spanning sectors including energy, aerospace, apparel, banking and financial services, consumer goods, digital economy, and logistics.
The roundtable represented the first major American private sector engagement with Chief Advisor Yunus and the Interim Government since its ascent to power in August 2024. Addressing the group, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate noted Bangladesh’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. and welcomed collaboration to improve Bangladesh’s business and investment environments, implement lasting economic reforms, and assist the U.S. in diversifying its supply chains across the Indo-Pacific.
