For Immediate Release: October 21, 2011
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
Senior Commerce Trade Official Highlights Importance of Health Information Technologies Exports
Assistant Secretary Lamb-Hale Addresses Health IT Conference
Boston – Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale today highlighted the important role that health information technology sector exports play in achieving President Obama’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014 during remarks at the Center for Connected Health Symposium in Boston.
“President Obama has made it clear that Health Information Technologies (IT) is integral to his vision of a modern, cost-effective health care system for all Americans, and central to his innovation agenda for America’s scientific enterprise,” Lamb-Hale said. “With rapidly emerging customer communities in countries all around the world, Health IT is also key to achieving his goal of doubling U.S. exports and supporting several million jobs.”
Health IT is an increasingly important sector in the U.S. economy. In 2010, exports from the U.S. medical technology industry rose to more than $32 billion, employing more than 400,000 people. Health IT employment is expected to increase by more than 20 percent between 2008 and 2018.
“The United States has world-class capabilities in Health IT, and we look forward to supporting the global growth of health services and medical technology firms through trade promotion, industry analysis, and commercial diplomacy,” Lamb-Hale said.
More than 1,000 Health IT industry professional attended the symposium hosted by the Center for Connected Health.
The International Trade Administration’s Manufacturing and Services unit strengthens U.S. competitiveness abroad by helping shape industry-specific trade policy. For more information, visit www.trade.gov/mas.###
International Trade Administration
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