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FEDERALhearing transcript

Hearing on Promoting U.S. Commerce in the Middle East and North Africa

Original title: PROMOTING U.S. COMMERCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

January 1, 2015

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the U.S. government's strategy for increasing the 1% of total U.S. foreign direct investment currently directed toward the Middle East and North Africa, which impacts how the State Department prioritizes commercial diplomacy and economic reform efforts in the region.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Department of State

The department is responsible for implementing the commercial and economic policies discussed during the hearing.

U.S. Businesses

These entities are the primary targets for increased investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2015.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2015 House Foreign Affairs hearing regarding strategies to increase U.S. business investment and economic engagement in the Middle East and North Africa. The hearing focused on the region's economic potential, the impact of political instability, and the need for regional economic reforms.

Key Facts

  • The Middle East and North Africa region accounts for approximately 5.5% of the world's population.
  • The Middle East and North Africa region contributes just over 4% of the world's total GDP.
  • The Middle East and North Africa region receives only 1% of the nearly $5 trillion in total U.S. foreign direct investment.
  • The hearing was held on July 22, 2015, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
  • The subcommittee requires regional nations to implement political and economic reforms to better integrate into the global economy.
  • Witnesses included representatives from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

Why It Matters

The hearing examines the U.S. government's strategy for increasing the 1% of total U.S. foreign direct investment currently directed toward the Middle East and North Africa, which impacts how the State Department prioritizes commercial diplomacy and economic reform efforts in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to discuss how the U.S. can promote commerce and increase business investment in the Middle East and North Africa.
Who testified at the hearing?
Elizabeth Richard from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and Scott Nathan from the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs provided testimony.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Investment Disparity

The hearing highlights a significant gap between the region's population size and its share of U.S. foreign direct investment.

Connected Entities

personElizabeth RichardDeputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of SMap →
personIleana Ros-LehtinenChairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North AfricaMap →
personTheodore E. DeutchRanking Member of the SubcommitteeMap →
organizationHouse Committee on Foreign AffairsParent committee of the subcommitteeMap →
personScott NathanSpecial Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of SMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz5
    Current news / social attention level

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