Obama Commerce Official Stresses Exporting
Posted on 19. Aug, 2011 by Stephan Helgesen in Economy
At a luncheon meeting today, Friday Aug. 19th at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Obama Administration Department of Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez spoke about the increasing necessity for American companies to export. Drawing on impressive statistics that indicate a 17% rise in year-on-year exports, the Under Secretary painted an optimistic picture of increased employment if Free Trade Agreements that are working their way through Congress are passed.
Sanchez congratulated New Mexican companies that have stayed the course and persevered in their own export programs. Praising the Chamber, SBA, SBDCs and his own Department’s agency, the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, the Under Secretary spoke glowingly of the many traditional and new markets open to small-to-medium sized businesses if only they will step up and begin the process of exploring them.
His comments were followed and echoed by those of Ambassador Michael Michalak (former Ambassador to Vietnam and now Senior Advisor to the APEC 2011 USA Conference) who underscored the opportunities that lay in wait for enterprising American entrepreneurs who will take advantage of the many programs available from the Federal Government for penetrating the Asia-Pacific Region of countries that make up APEC.
Both Under Secretary Sanchez and Ambassador Michalak were very appreciative of the invitation extended by President Alex Romero of the AHCC and his Head of the International Trade Committee of the Chamber, Mr. Adam Trujillo, to participate in the roundtable discussion and promised to keep in close touch with the Chamber and the individual participants, offering follow-up assistance through their respective organizations. Next stop on the agenda was a courtesy call on Congressman Martin Heinrich.
- Editor
