In a time of global recession, companies need to be daring and innovative to keep moving forward. Saudi Arabia is one of the few nations in the world that has remained virtually untouched during a time of international financial distress . You are invited to a breakfast briefing on why you might want to choose Saudi Arabia to increase your revenues, and open up valuable markets to even out your margins.

"Why SAUDI ARABIA?" will be led by Commercial Officer Jesse Lapierre, who recently served two tours in the Kingdom, in the capital city of Riyadh and the Port City of Jeddah. He has recently been assigned to New Orleans for two years.

After the briefing, Mr. Lapierre will be available for individual consultation.

Mr. Lapierre will discuss:

• $1 trillion in Saudi Government spending over the next 10 years

• Niche Markets and Trends for Small Businesses
  

• Cultural Considerations

• Market Challenges and How to Effectively Overcome Them 

• Major Project Opportunities:

  • Rail

  • Shipping

  • Airports

  • Oil & Petrochemicals

  • Mining

  • Infrastructure

There will also be a robust Question and Answer period to address the many dimensions of a country which is a mystery to many in the U.S.

About Jesse Lapierre

Jesse M Lapierre began his international career in the private sector with Telos Corporation of Washington, DC, where he quickly moved from inside sales to head of the $29 million Western European account in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2004, he entered government service with the U.S. Department of Commerce, serving first with the Office of Strategic Planning, and then as Director of Global Market Research. In September of 2007, he began his first tour as a Diplomat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as Commercial Attaché and served until September 2008. He was then promoted to Commercial Consul for Jeddah and the Western Provinces and served from September 2008 to September 2009. His primary responsibility was assisting U.S. companies in entering the Saudi market.

He is currently assigned to the New Orleans Export Assistance Center, and is charged with assisting Louisiana companies in Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes with their export assistance needs. He is also the office lead responsible for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Environmental Technology sectors in Louisiana.

Mr. Lapierre is a native of Massachusetts, and earned his B.A. in English Literature from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH and his M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University in Arlington, VA. He has a certificate in Developmental Economics from Universitiet van Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa and he currently holds several professional certifications in International Business and Training Design and Presentation.