Updated

September 25, 2024

Published

August 26, 2024

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The 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) is underway now in New York City through September 30th.  

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is on the ground in New York hosting two dozen events, bilateral meetings, roundtables, report launches, and more on the sidelines of UNGA—including 11 direct engagements with heads of state or government. These meetings present the opportunity to discuss priority issues between the business community and world leaders, and demonstrate how American business is at the heart of solving some of the world’s most pressing geopolitical and socio-economic challenges.  

By the Numbers 

  • 19
    The total number of events the Chamber has hosted so far on the periphery of UNGA.
  • 11
    The number of events that have included a Head of State or Government. They include Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, and Vietnam’s President To Lam.

Follow @chamberglobal on X for updates. 

Energy Roundtable with President Zelenskyy 

a group of people sitting at a table

The Chamber on Monday hosted four Heads of State, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for a public-private sector roundtable focused on meeting Ukraine’s immediate energy needs and ensuring Ukraine’s long-term energy security. The roundtable built on U.S. Chamber efforts to realize a peaceful, prosperous Ukraine through the Ukraine Business Initiative, dedicated to facilitating American companies’ engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction and modernization after victory is won. 

As our Board of Directors Chair Mark Ordan said, “U.S. support for Ukraine is not philanthropy; it's an investment in U.S. economic and national security, and in the fate of global democracy. Ukraine has the long-term potential to become a pillar of Europe’s energy security through natural gas, oil reserves, hydrogen, and renewable energy. Realizing this potential is only possible with private-sector partnership. The challenges ahead are vast, but so are the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the commitment of the U.S. business community.”

CEO Roundtable with President Erdoğan 

a group of people sitting at a table

Chamber President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark, along with the Chamber’s U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, led by Chairman Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and top Ministers on Monday about Türkiye’s economic reforms, positive developments in the U.S.-Türkiye relationship, and ongoing projects in finance, defense, aviation, manufacturing, energy, climate, and digital transformation.   

President Erdoğan spoke to the growing connectivity between the U.S. and Turkish economies, especially in energy and aviation and defense partnerships, Türkiye’s new large-scale investment incentives program looking to attract high-technology investments, and the combined strengths of U.S. and Turkish companies to develop more strategic projects across Central Asia and Africa. 

“Over the past year and a half, Türkiye has implemented significant macroeconomic reforms that will enable not just an economic recovery, but a resurgence,” said Clark. “Our nations’ shared goal of $100 billion in two-way trade is within reach, and together, we have the chance to not only witness this new economic era, but to help write this new chapter.”

Executive Roundtable with Vice President of Nigeria

a man in a black hat sitting at a table with a microphone

The Chamber's U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) hosted the Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima for a business roundtable focused on economic and regulatory strategies bolstering U.S.-Nigeria commercial ties and showcasing the formal launch of the Chamber’s new U.S.-Nigeria Business Initiative.   

Describing his country as “[having] unrivaled investment opportunities, and strategically positioned as the gateway to the African market,” Vice President Shettima declared, “The take-away for all of you is there is a paradigm shift in Nigerian business climate. Nigeria is now open for business.” 

“Nigeria’s bold economic reform agenda, advancing under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, continues to enhance U.S. investor confidence and attract more private investment to Africa’s largest democracy,” said Kendra Gaither, President of the USAfBC.

Issues to Watch