Anton Germishuizen, AIA, principal and
a member of the Board of Directors, Burt, Hill

Over 40 people attended the WTCGP breakfast briefing “Business Opportunities in the Booming Gulf States” on April 30, 2008 at the law offices of Dilworth Paxson in Philadelphia. Among them were members of the WTCGP International Design and Architectural Consortium, executives from regional companies manufacturing construction-related materials, and representatives from businesses providing legal, banking and language support services to international corporations.

The program participants were welcomed by Joanna Savvides, president, WTCGP; Anthony S. Bartolomeo, chairman of the WTCGP Board of Directors, as well as Mark A. Sullivan, a long-time supporter of our organization and attorney at law in Dilworth Paxson LLP, the event’s host.

Next, Ousama Ghannoum, WTCA Board member, WTCA regional coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, general manager of the World Trade Center Abu Dhabi and marketing and communications director at ALDAR, provided an extensive overview of business opportunities in the Gulf. According to Mr. Ghannoum, the region’s potential can be measured by $2.011 trillion worth of oil and gas, petrochemicals, industry and construction contracts. He touched upon dozens of ambitious and breathtaking real estate projects, such as man-made islands and coast lines, Da Vinci (rotating) Towers, Dancing Towers within the Business Bay Development in Dubai, wheel-shaped hotels, Yas Island entertainment park featuring Warner Bros. rides and others. In addition to the plethora of business opportunities in the Gulf, Mr. Ghannoum discussed the challenges of doing business there, such as rising costs of raw materials, scarcity of skilled professionals and experienced workers; and UAE property laws.

Anton Germishuizen, AIA, principal and a member of the Board of Directors, Burt, Hill, shared his company’s experience of succeeding in this emerging market. In1997, Burt, Hill completed its first two projects in the region from its U.S.-based office. Six years later, the company opened its first four-person office in Dubai. By 2004, Burt, Hill’s office grew to 50 people ad started offering creative services and strategic planning services. Over the next three years, the company grew its staff in Dubai to 380 people and opened a new office of 30 in Abu Dhabi. As of 2007, Burt, Hill’s projects under construction amounted to over $5 billion and projects under design exceeded &20 billion.

The WTCGP would like to thank Dilworth Paxson LLP for their sponsorship of this breakfast briefing.

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