Tradeology, the ITA Blog

By Fred Volcansek, Executive Director, SelectUSA

The second day of the 2017 SelectUSA Investment Summit was one for the record books. On Monday, June 19, we welcomed more than 2,800 attendees – our largest Summit yet – from 51 U.S. states and territories and 64 global markets to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

Photo from the Klaxoon announcement ceremony – Klaxoon CEO Matthieu Beucher (left) and SelectUSA Executive Director Fred Volcansek (right)

Deputy Chief of Staff and performing delegated duties of the Under Secretary for International Trade Israel Hernandez introduced Secretary Wilbur Ross, who started the first day of mainstage events by welcoming the record 1,200+ international investors to the second day of the Summit.

“To our international delegation members – welcome. We’re glad you’re here. We welcome you as our guests, and we welcome you as investors.” – Israel Hernandez

In addition to Secretary Ross, Energy Secretary Rick Perry highlighted one of the unique advantages to investing in the United States: our vast, low-cost supply of energy from a wide range of sources.

The theme for the 2017 Summit, “Grow with US”, promotes the fact that the United States is the place to invest and grow a business. When you select the United States, you’re gaining access to the world’s most dynamic, innovative market – and so much more.

This message was reiterated on the mainstage by the leading business executives and industry experts in the world, including National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons, ABB President of the Americas Region Greg Sheu, General Motors Chair and CEO Mary T. Barra, GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt, and others.
It was also another day of firsts for the SelectUSA Investment Summit.

One feature of the day was the armchair between Secretary Ross and UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox – the first time a U.S. cabinet member has ever shared the Summit stage with an international counterpart.

Building upon last year’s Infrastructure Roundtable, the SelectUSA Infrastructure Symposium brought experts in the field of public-private partnerships (P3s) together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of American infrastructure investment. Richard LeFrak, Chairman and CEO of LeFrak, delivered the keynote address.

Meanwhile, as the Symposium was underway, more SelectUSA history was made. Secretary Ross congratulated French tech startup Klaxoon, which broke the news of its first-ever investment in the United States, right here at the Summit.

Secretary Ross also joined South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and executives from BMW, Michelin, and Siemens USA to recognize South Carolina’s ambitious workforce development programs.

The full day of listening and networking culminated in U.S. State and Local Night, a lively event where attendees got the chance to strengthen newly formed connections and take mini-trips all over the nation. I have no doubt that many successful ventures will be born, and new American jobs created, because of these connections.

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow, the 2017 Summit will draw to a close. And there is still so much to come. We’ll hear from Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, and several more international business leaders. I look forward to more exciting firsts, including another investment announcement that involves the creation of 250 new jobs in the Sunshine State.
Visit the Summit website to see the full agenda.

If you were not able to join us this year, check out the livestream for live coverage of mainstage events, and follow SelectUSA on Twitter.