![arrow](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130219195232im_/http://www.trade.gov/images/bullet_arrow.jpg)
![arrow](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130219195232im_/http://www.trade.gov/images/bullet_arrow.jpg)
For Immediate Release: August 24, 2010
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
Commerce Department's International Trade Administration Supports Efforts to Increase Exports Among Minority Businesses
Commerce senior official to address MED Week Conference Wednesday
WASHINGTON – Officials from the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) addressed minority businesses today at the National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference in Washington, D.C., and explained how exporting can help them improve their competitiveness in the global marketplace.
“Through President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI), U.S. firms both small and large have access to programs and resources designed to help expand their reach into international markets that crave American-made goods and services,” said Joel Secundy, ITA’s deputy assistant secretary for services. “Increasing exports is critical to continuing our nation’s economic recovery and creating good jobs for Americans.”
Throughout today’s sessions, ITA officials highlighted specific programs and services available to U.S. minority businesses that are new to exporting or looking to expand into additional international markets. Through the NEI, President Obama has instructed the federal government to use every available federal resource to help double American exports during the next five years to support two million jobs.
“With the National Export Initiative, American businesses that want to export especially small and medium-sized enterprises have a more vigorous partner in the U.S. government,” said J Joe Hurd, ITA’s senior director for trade policy and export promotion. “This initiative marks the first time the United States will have a government-wide export-promotion strategy with focused attention from the President and his cabinet.”
The federal government is expanding its trade advocacy efforts in all forms, including educating U.S. companies about opportunities overseas, directly connecting U.S. companies with new customers, and advocating more forcefully for U.S. business interests in contracting processes.
Tomorrow, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez will deliver keynote remarks at the MED Week Conference, hosted by Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
###
International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 77 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.
The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, manages this global trade site to provide access to ITA information on promoting trade and investment, strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. This site contains PDF documents. A PDF reader is available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.