Inc Magazine
The Middle East never appeared on Michael Connelly’s list of potential new markets when he thought about expanding overseas. Canada seemed like the next logical step for Connelly’s company, New York City-based Mosaica Education, which had started 50 charter schools in seven U.S. states and Washington, D.C., teaming up with local education boards and managing everything from lesson plans to the cafeteria. “I never would have dreamed of the Middle East,” Connelly says.
Everyone was a little worried about how it would all come together on the first day of school, Campbell says. But it did. Mosaica met its obligations for the first year, and Qatar renewed the company’s contract for 2006. The success has drawn the attention of Abu Dhabi. This fall, 35 Mosaica employees are scheduled to begin converting schools there. Connelly expects the Middle East to account for about 20 percent of Mosaica’s $91 million in projected revenue this year.
Connelly, who now makes a couple of trips overseas each year, is emboldened. He plans to branch out further in the Middle East and venture into Asia. He is now in talks with Bahrain, Oman, and Turkey, as well as China and Korea. Mosaica is not the only company benefiting from a surge in Mideast demand for U.S. goods and services. This year, U.S. exports to the region are expected to increase 56 percent, to $40 billion. Below, the top 15 importers. (Source: The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy)
| Country | 2006 Merchandise Imports from the U.S. |
| Saudi Arabia | $10.7 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | $10.2 billion |
| Egypt | $5.1 billion |
| Kuwait | $2.4 billion |
| Iraq | $2.2 billion |
| Algeria | $1.5 billion |
| Qatar | $1 billion |
| Jordan | $1 billion |
| Oman | $920 million |
| Morocco | $800 million |
| Lebanon | $580 million |
| Bahrain | $450 million |
| Yemen | $350 million |
| Tunisia | $220 million |
| Syria | $200 million |