Edward Mermelstein, the Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, revealed a common desire to maximize the financial expertise of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) in New York, the US economic and commercial capital.
On his first visit to Saudi Arabia, Mermelstein said there is anticipation for building governmental, social, and economic bridges between New York and the Kingdom.
Regarding Saudi investment in the US and New York, Mermelstein told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The investment trend between Saudi Arabia and the US has remained constant in general.”
“Previous data issued by the US government showed that the Kingdom is among the 30 largest trade and investment partners of the US,” added Mermelstein.
According to Mermelstein, the trade and investment relationship between Washington and Riyadh, worth $54 billion, creates thousands of jobs in both countries.
In 2020, US goods exports to Saudi Arabia exceeded $10.9 billion, and US imports were just over $9 billion, according to the US Census Bureau.
“Generally, we are witnessing a very high demand for investment in New York City from the GCC countries,” said Mermelstein.
“This is primarily due to the strong relations between the two parties, as well as the economic and political instability in other popular investment areas in other parts of the world, which have recently fallen out of favor,” he added.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF intends to open an office in New York. This was welcomed by Mermelstein, who said: “Our management prides itself on being business-friendly and welcomes international investment in our city.”
“Our management is certain that the Saudi fund will have great financial experience in New York City,” he added.
“Foreign direct investment helps cities and countries boost their economies,” noted Mermelstein, adding that New York also seeks to work with stakeholders to ensure that investment is mutually beneficial for all parties.
Mermelstein stressed that the trade and investment relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia is reflected in the numbers.
“According to the Department of Commerce, US exports of goods and services to Saudi Arabia also maintained an estimated 165,000 jobs in 2015, of which 101,000 were related to commodity exports, and 63,000 were related to service exports,” revealed Mermelstein.
On opportunities for cooperation between New York and Riyadh, Mermelstein said: “New York City is a global city. We have a strong and resilient economy. When meeting with global partners, we discuss various topics of mutual interest.”
“As a city, we are investing to help our youth become global citizens with a strong understanding of global affairs,” he added.
“We worked with our global counterparts to identify ways in which our students can connect and learn about perspectives.”
“In terms of economic development, we are well positioned as a welcoming city for international companies looking to grow globally.”
