For Immediate Release: February 7, 2011
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
Commerce Under Secretary Discusses the Importance of Exports With Texas Business Delegation
Under Secretary Francisco Sánchez congratulates “SA to DC” delegation on export achievement
WASHINGTON – Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, discussed the importance of exporting as he addressed members of the 33rd Annual Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce “SA to DC” delegation today.
Sánchez recognized the San Antonio business community for its strong community partnerships, such as the San Antonio Export Leaders Program, and for leading the way on innovative models to increase international trade and local companies’ capacity to export. The delegation of more than 120, included San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, and Richard Perez, president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
“When I visited San Antonio last year, I learned about the San Antonio Export Leaders Program,” Sánchez said. “Helping local companies learn how to export and move to new markets is essential to the future of San Antonio, Texas, and the nation. I encourage you to keep up these efforts to strengthen the export promotion pipeline.”
Sánchez discussed President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI), which aims to double U.S. exports by 2015, supporting economic and job growth. He mentioned that the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEAC) has an array of services in place to assist Texas businesses export.
‘The economy of the future requires that American businesses compete and win the global marketplace. The San Antonio USEAC offers a variety of services to San Antonio companies that are new to exporting and companies that want to expand to additional markets,” Sánchez said.
Texas' export shipments of merchandise in 2009 totaled $163 billion, the largest figure among the 50 states. Texas' exports rose $33.7 billion from 2005 to 2009, the largest dollar gain among the states. In the first half of 2009, San Antonio exported $2.2 billion.
A total of 26,265 companies exported goods from Texas locations in 2008. Of those, 24,294 (92 percent) were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 500 employees, the fourth highest number among all 50 states.
For 33 years, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has led an annual SA to DC trip to Washington. Representatives from the city, county, and leading industries travel to the nation’s capitol unified on the specific needs and international trade concerns of the South Central Texas region.
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International Trade Administration
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