FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
News Media Contact:
Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-4883
Summit Offers Global Investors Information on How to Grow Their Businesses in Communities Nationwide
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today that registration is now open for the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit, to be held March 23-24, in the Washington, D.C. area. The Summit will showcase investment opportunities from every corner of the United States to investors from around the world, while high-profile business and government leaders share their insights on the latest business trends.
“International investors have recognized that now is a great time to establish or expand operations in the United States,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Our nation is incredibly diverse, with the most attractive consumer market, a thriving culture of innovation, and a very talented workforce. Companies of all sizes – from start-ups to multinationals – recognize that America is open for their business and investment. The SelectUSA Investment Summit will feature the tools, information and connections companies need to move investments forward.”
The 2015 Summit will build on the momentum generated by the U.S. economic recovery, as well as the sold-out success of the first SelectUSA Investment Summit. Held in late 2013, more than 1,300 participants came from 60 countries, 48 U.S. states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia. Earlier this year, the United States again took the top spot in A.T. Kearney’s 2014 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index: international executives gave the United States the highest net positive rating in the 16-year history of the index, and the report highlighted the creation of SelectUSA. This August, the Department of Commerce released data showing that the United States attracted $231 billion in FDI in 2013, up from $161 billion in 2012. The reshoring of U.S. manufacturing is also picking up speed; a few weeks ago, the Boston Consulting Group revealed that more than 54 percent of the U.S. manufacturing executives they surveyed are interested in reshoring operations.
“We were thrilled by the overwhelming demand expressed by investors and U.S. economic developers in 2013, so we’re making the 2015 Summit even bigger and better,” said Vinai Thummalapally, Executive Director of SelectUSA. “We’re nearly doubling the size and launching enhanced online matchmaking. The agenda is packed with practical information, including sessions highlighting opportunities in rural America and novel approaches to infrastructure investment, as well as a pre-Summit SelectUSA Academy for first-time investors.”
To accommodate the expanded event, the Summit will be held at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Participants will include international and domestic companies of all sizes seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States, as well as U.S. state, regional, and local economic development organizations; business associations; service providers; and other organizations that facilitate business investment. Media are welcome to register. All attendees must register in advance, and registration may fill up quickly.
In addition to an agenda featuring high-profile CEOs, government leaders, and other experts, the Summit will include a trade show where U.S. economic development organizations can host individual or joint booths, display the advantages of their locations, and connect directly with investors. Interested parties can visit www.selectusasummit.com for more information.
About SelectUSA: Housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA promotes and facilitates business investment into the United States by coordinating related federal government agencies to serve as a single point of contact for investors. SelectUSA assists U.S. economic development organizations to compete globally for investment by providing information, a platform for international marketing, and high-level advocacy. SelectUSA also helps investors find the information they need to make decisions; connect to the right people at the local level; navigate the federal regulatory system; and find solutions to issues related to the federal government. More information at www.selectusa.gov.
