Overview of Award
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the New York-based World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), which promotes international trade through 302 World Trade Centers spanning 91 countries, established WTCA Day. This special annual event celebrates the resolve of all World Trade Centers to enhance peace and stability through trade. This year's WTCA Day events will be hosted by World Trade Centers around the world on June 11, 2003.
An important part of every WTCA Day program will be the selection by each World Trade Center of a “Book of Honor” inductee, an individual or organization that best represents the goal of all World Trade Centers - the promotion of peace and stability through international trade and business. At the Kentucky World Trade Center's inaugural WTCA Day event in 2002, we paid tribute to the achievements of Kentucky's first “Book of Honor” inductee, former Governor Martha Layne Collins. Last year we paid tribute to UPS. This year, we pay tribute to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Award Winner
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has been selected as Kentucky's inductee into the World Trade Centers Association's 2004 Book of Honor for his promotion of world peace through trade initiatives. In addition to being the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan also serves as Minister of Finance & Industry for the UAE, President of the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services, and Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Center.
Through initiatives such as the Dubai Investment Park, his pro-business policies, and his promotion of ethnic diversity and tolerance, HH Sheikh Hamdan has helped dramatically improve the investment climate for U.S. companies in Dubai. The presence of 500 plus U.S. firms in the UAE reflects the confidence and trust of investors. HH Sheikh Hamdan's trade initiatives have resulted in peace and stability for businesspeople and tourists traveling to and living in this Middle Eastern country.
In addition to business initiatives, HH Sheikh Hamdan is also well-known for his generous patronage of over $2.7 million to the winners of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, established to honor individuals and organizations around the world for outstanding medical achievements that serve all of humanity.
The award will be accepted on HH Sheikh Hamdan's behalf by Mr. Rick Nichols, Vice President and General Manager of Shadwell Farms of Lexington, owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan. Mr. Nichols may be reached at 859-255-9757 or by e-mailing his assistant Stephanie Fordham at sfordham@shadwellfarm.com.
