Looking Back at Hannover Messe and Forward to the SelectUSA Investment Summit
May 5, 2017Kenneth Hyatt, Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce
It was an honor to represent the United States at the largest industrial technology trade show in the world last month. It was also an inspiring look into how and why the United States continues to lead on the cutting edge of innovation and opportunity.
Hannover Messe 2017 (April 24-28, in Hannover, Germany) brought the global industrial technology industry together in one location. More than 200,000 attendees from over 60 countries got a chance to see incredible technology in action. From always-connected household devices to augmented-reality goggles, “Industry 4.0” was in full force across 27 conference halls. The United States had a prominent presence in most of these halls.
As my colleague Jason Lindesmith noted in an earlier blog post, U.S. innovation was on full display in each of the U.S. pavilions and booths. More than 220 exhibitors, representing 30 states and territories, brought American ingenuity to the spotlight through advanced robotics, smart technology, and the “Internet of Things.”
U.S. leadership in advanced technology extends beyond U.S.-based companies. German companies directly employ nearly 700,000 Americans in the United States. These companies understand that investing in the United States is not just good for their bottom lines; it’s a win for U.S. jobs.
It isn’t hard to see why German companies are bullish on the U.S. market. The United States is the top foreign direct investment (FDI) location in the world, a fact made clear by the SelectUSA Pavilion. International technology companies stopped by the pavilion and met face-to-face with economic developers from across the United States.
SelectUSA is the investment promotion program of the U.S. government. Working with economic development organizations (EDOs) and global companies looking for their next investment opportunities, SelectUSA’s team of dedicated investment specialists facilitate job-creating investment in communities across America. Once a year, SelectUSA holds the top FDI event in the country: the SelectUSA Investment Summit.
I look forward to attending this year’s Summit, June 18-20, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in the Washington, D.C. area. This event is an unparalleled opportunity for global companies, U.S. EDOs, and other stakeholders to meet under one roof to forge partnerships and hear from senior government officials, business executives, and industry leaders.
Registration is still open for the Summit, but space is quickly filling up. More than 2,000 investors from 70 international markets, economic developers from across the United States, and industry experts from around the world will be there. I hope you’ll be among them – Grow with us by applying for registration.
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