We sat down with Albara’a Alwazir, the Business Council’s Economist, to learn more about his work here and how he came to join the Council in July 2018. We are elated to have him on our team after his work with The National Commercial Bank in Saudi Arabia. Albara’a offers unique insight on the Business Council’s work and offerings to our members.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

I have always enjoyed research whether at school or during my career. Throughout my career, economic research has consistently been a key component in the work I execute. My experiences in real estate, hospitality, asset management, banking and now non-for profit has allowed me to analyze markets and provide forecasts with a focus on financial and economic impacts. While at The National Commercial Bank, I had the opportunity to join the economic team and fully immerse myself in Saudi Arabia’s dynamic economic landscape. This experience solidified my interest in economic data and analysis research as I had the opportunity to be a leader in communicating to a global audience.

What attracted you to the Council?

Given the specialized and promising market that the Business Council operates in, I found my experience closely matches what the Council needs in providing its members with quality research and in-depth market intelligence. Having worked in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, I understand the magnitude of bilateral trade between the two closely tied economies. I also know that acquiring reliable and accurate data on the Saudi Arabian economy often times is hard to come by. My experience in Saudi Arabia gives the Council a competitive advantage by providing its members with valuable insights.

What can members look forward to in 2019?

I look forward to providing our members with timely data to aide them in their strategic decision-making process. In order to do that, our members must have the tools to make optimal decisions. The Business Council’s reports are aligned to facilitate this process. Our economic products include:

• Weekly Market Briefs
• Monthly Economic Briefs
• Quarterly Investment Trends
• Semi-annual sector reports

This February, we will host a webinar focusing on the defense sector, based on our recently published report, “Defense, Security, and Aerospace.” This year, we will publish two sector reports focusing on the Mining and Power Sectors. We will also issue quarterly reports focusing on capital investment in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on the construction industry. Members will continue to receive our weekly and monthly reports that provide the most recent data on Saudi Arabian, U.S., and global market performances.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know what topics are of interest to you so that we can best serve your needs.

Albara’a is available to discuss your feedback and provide consultation services. Please contact him at alalwazir@us-sabc.org or call 703-962-9300.