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For Immediate Release: January 26, 2011
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
ASIA PACIFIC REGION OFFERS OREGON FIRMS EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2011 to Draw Key Trading Partners to United States
PORTLAND, Ore. – Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez today urged Portland businesses to participate in APEC 2011 events designed to advance trade and investment opportunities in this important region. As the host nation for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2011, the United States welcomes APEC economies representing approximately 2.7 billion consumers and 58 percent of global income.
"The United States has a unique opportunity to leverage the APEC 2011 USA host year to enhance our trade priorities," Sánchez said at today's APEC Road Show stop in Portland. "We will address barriers to trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific to the advantage of U.S. businesses and workers."
Seattle was the first stop of the "APEC Road Show," an outreach effort to encourage Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country to export more and to join the U.S. delegation traveling to the APEC SME Ministerial -- aimed at advancing support for micro, small, and medium enterprises in all 21 APEC member economies -- in May in Big Sky, Montana.
APEC member economies account for 40 percent of the world's population, approximately 58 percent of world Gross Domestic Product and about 48 percent of the world's goods trade. In 2009, Oregon's top five export destinations were all APEC economies, with China receiving more than 20 percent ($3 billion) of the state's exported goods.
"A special session between APEC's Trade and SME Ministers with small business owners offers you the opportunity to communicate to senior government officials how trade contributes directly to your firm's bottom line," Sánchez said.
Sanchez was the featured speaker this morning at an APEC 2011 SME Workshop and this afternoon at an APEC 2011 Local Business Leaders lunch.
The APEC Road Show is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Government's Departments of Commerce and State, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the private sector U.S. APEC 2011 Host Committee. It is a monthly series of educational, outreach events that targets SMEs, local business leaders, academia and media.
For more information on APEC 2011, please visit http://www.apec2011.gov/.
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