For Immediate Release: September 7, 2011
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
New Public-Private Partnership Extends Support for President Obama's National Export Initiative
Francisco J. Sánchez, under secretary for international trade and Manny Mencia, president of the State International Development Organization sign a memorandum of intent to cooperate on international trade issues. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)
WASHINGTON – Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sánchez and the State International Development Organization (SIDO) President Manny Mencia signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) today to formalize coordination to meet the goals of the President’s National Export Initiative. The MOI will enhance ITA’s partnership with state trade agencies to deliver the services necessary to assist U.S. companies to successfully export their products and services and enter new foreign markets.
“Working with partners like the State International Development Organization will allow more small and medium-sized businesses to tap into resources that will help them find new customers,” Sanchez said. “Through our network of international trade specialists in more than 100 U.S. cities and each state’s trade office, businesses will be able to access assistance from experienced staff to simplify the exporting process.”
President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) set a goal to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014, supporting millions of jobs. The International Trade Administration plays a lead role in implementing the NEI.
“We are excited to expand our working relationship with the International Trade Administration,” Mencia said. “A closer partnership between ITA and the states will provide greater access to export opportunities and trade financing for our companies and help to create much needed jobs in our states.”
U.S. goods and services exports in the first half of 2011 are up nearly 16 percent to $1 trillion from the $887.6 billion in exports in first half of 2010.
In the first half of 2011, the largest state exporter was Texas with more than $120 billion in merchandise exports. Texas was followed as a leading exporter in the first half of 2011 by California ($77.4 billion), New York ($41.4 billion), Illinois ($31.4 billion), and Florida ($31.0 billion).
SIDO is a non-profit affiliate organization of the Council of State Governments that represents the trade promotion organizations of the state governments.
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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.
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