U.S. Ambassadors to Lead Investor Delegations to 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that 22 U.S. Chiefs of Mission will join President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and other administration officials at the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit, June 20-21, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. The Summit will bring together international companies, domestic economic development organizations (EDOs), and a range of other stakeholders to explore job-creating investment opportunities throughout the United States.

“We are delighted to welcome such robust delegations representing a diverse mix of markets around the world,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Foreign direct investment creates jobs in communities across America. The enthusiastic response from global investors indicates that these companies recognize that there has never been a better time to invest in the United States.”

Nearly 2,400 participants from 65 foreign markets and the United States will participate in the SelectUSA Summit. This year’s theme, “The Innovation Advantage,” will highlight the innovative climate and diversity of resources available across the country that can contribute to global competitiveness. High-profile business and government leaders will share their insights on the latest innovations and trends.

U.S. ambassadors and their teams constantly promote the United States as the premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). Experts from the Departments of Commerce and State at U.S. embassies and consulates are often the first point-of-contact for international investors seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States.

International delegation heads for the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit currently include:

• Ambassador Alexa Wesner (Austria)
• Ambassador William V. Roebuck (Bahrain)
• Ambassador Marcia Bernicat (Bangladesh)
• Ambassador Denise Bauer (Belgium)
• Chargé d'Affaires Peter Brennan (Bolivia)
• Ambassador Liliana Ayalde (Brazil)
• Ambassador Bruce A. Heyman (Canada)
• Ambassador Michael A. Hammer (Chile)
• Ambassador Max Sieben Baucus (China)
• Ambassador James “Wally” Brewster, Jr. (Dominican Republic)
• Ambassador Charles C. Adams, Jr. (Finland)
• Ambassador Jane D. Hartley (France)
• Ambassador Colleen Bell (Hungary)
• Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro (Israel)
• Ambassador Mark Gilbert (New Zealand)
• Ambassador Samuel D. Heins (Norway)
• Ambassador Joseph Westphal (Saudi Arabia)
• Ambassador Kirk Wagar (Singapore)
• Ambassador Brent R. Hartley (Slovenia)
• Ambassador James Costos (Spain)
• Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine (Switzerland)
• Director Kin W. Moy (Taiwan)
• Ethan Goldrich, Deputy Chief of Mission (United Arab Emirates)

The United States is home to more FDI than any other country, and led the world in attracting FDI for nine of the past 10 years. In 2014, the total stock of direct investment in the United States was valued at $2.9 trillion (18 percent of GDP). FDI is an integral part of the U.S. economy. In fact, as of 2014, U.S. affiliates of foreign companies directly employed more than 6.1 million people, offering average annual compensation of $79,979, well above the national average.

An additional 5.9 million U.S. jobs can be attributed to FDI through supply chains, productivity gains, increased incomes, and other economic effects. In 2013, these affiliates spent approximately $53 billion on American research and development and were responsible for more than one-fifth or 22.6 percent of the total U.S. goods exports.

Members of the press interested in reporting on the Summit, should visit www.SelectUSASummit.us to learn more. Media should click here to access the registration system. The deadline for media registration is June 16, 2016.