Today marks 28 years since the plane carrying Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and 34 others crashed, and all aboard perished while on the way to Dubrovnik, Croatia for a trade mission. True to ITA’s goal of uplifting U.S. businesses and our international partners, they sought to promote commercial opportunities for both the United States and a newly independent Croatia. We vow not to forget the victims, 11 of whom were Commerce officials, including five of our own from ITA.
It is an important day for the international trade community to reflect and remember the colleagues who we lost and honor the legacy that they left behind. At ITA, we do this by continuing our work on trade missions worldwide and channeling our efforts to uplift the Balkans region despite regional hardships. We also have ITA Memorial Awards named in their honor for our team members whose contributions are a fitting tribute to their memory.
Please join us today in keeping these individuals and their family members in your thoughts.
Marisa Lago is the Under Secretary for International Trade. Diane Farrell is the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade.
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Women’s History Month is a time to honor the legacies of women who came before us and look forward to the possibilities for women and girls. At the International Trade Administration (ITA), we believe that investing in young women means investing in a future where women can lead without limitation. We also believe in committing ourselves to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility not only through words, but also through actions. This starts with addressing the barriers to inclusive economic growth and empowering women right here in our own communities.
Recently, I attended a presentation by three Fashion & Apparel Master’s students at the University of Delaware, Kendall Ludwig, Miranda Rack, and Hannah Laurits, hosted at the Department of Commerce. Their research explored opportunities for sustainable apparel and U.S. leadership in technical textiles production in sectors like medicine, automotives and beyond. The presentation also highlighted the competitiveness and recent growth of U.S.-made textile and apparel manufacturers.
Women make up half of the world’s population, but as of 2023, only 29.2% of the U.S. manufacturing workforce was made up of women. This statistic is reflective of the challenges that still exist for women in the labor market. But where there is a challenge, there is also opportunity.
In 2023 alone, U.S. exports of textiles and apparel amounted to $24.8 billion. As part of my duties in furthering ITA’s mission to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry, I found the depth and timing of the presentation impressive as it dove into niche topics important to consumers, brands, and retailers – all important stakeholders ITA aims to serve. But even more so, the presentation showed the leadership and tenacity embodied by this next generation of women leaders through the commitment the students showed to the topic.
We know that communities thrive when women are fully integrated into the workforce. That’s why it’s so important to encourage girls at a young age to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and related fields which provide skillsets needed in a range of critical sectors and industries. ITA is committed to uplifting women, and girls because as Under Secretary Lago often says, “It’s not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense – for sustainable, inclusive growth.”
Young professionals who are interested in creating a more inclusive economy can learn more about internship and career opportunities at ITA on our website!
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Don Townsend is ITA’s Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Almaty, Kazakhstan
In just a few months, the International Trade Administration (ITA) will lead the U.S. Government’s largest annual trade mission across Europe and Eurasia aimed to build partnerships and facilitate deals with international buyers and distributors. Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia will have mission stops in six countries and feature a diverse range of U.S. businesses representing a variety of different industries—from clean technologies to defense to retail—for tailored matchmaking meetings, networking opportunities, and one-on-one meetings with ITA’s commercial diplomats. Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia will visit Almaty, Kazakhstan from May 16-17, 2024.
With the largest economy in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is an increasingly important trading partner to the United States. In 2022, U.S.-Kazakhstan bilateral trade reached $3.7 billion, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2021, with U.S. exports rising to nearly $1.1 billion across a variety of sectors, including machinery, pharmaceuticals, electronics and vehicles.
With over 600 U.S. companies operating in the country, Kazakhstan is also emerging as the primary business, transport and logistics hub of Central Asia. The country offers a gateway to a market of about 150 million consumers among Caspian Sea countries, 50 million in Central Asia and 300 million in Western China, linking the large, fast-growing markets of China and South Asia with Western Europe.
In 2015, the Government of Kazakhstan launched the Nurly Zhol initiative – a nearly $9 billion endeavor to develop and modernize roads, railways, ports, airports and IT infrastructure. This infrastructure investment presents opportunities for U.S. companies across a variety of sectors to provide goods, services and expertise as Kazakhstan further solidifies its position as Central Asia’s premiere transit hub.
Kazakhstan also has abundant mineral resources. It is the world’s largest uranium producer, third largest titanium producer, and eleventh largest gold producer. In total, the mining sector accounted for an estimated 17% of Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product in 2022. Kazakhstan has great potential for producing critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are ever increasingly in demand as countries and industries shift to using more renewable energy sources.
Additionally, agriculture and water management present potential opportunities for U.S. companies looking to explore or expand in the Kazakhstan market. Agriculture has historically been an important driver of the country’s economic production, accounting for 5.1% in 2022. The Government of Kazakhstan has also announced that it intends to invest an annual average of $530 million to water management between 2021-2030 to modernize its wastewater treatment facilities and improve sections of various canals and evaporation fields. The Asian Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will allocate a combined $686 million to construct and modernize sewage treatment facilities in cities across the country, which presents opportunities for U.S. businesses to bid on tenders for goods and services.
Given the significant opportunities and immense potential for increased commercial engagement, Almaty was selected as one of the six mission stops for Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia. While the mission stop in Almaty is at capacity, interested parties can still register to attend the Business Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye and meet with me to learn more about the market. For more information, please visit the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia webpage.
Christopher Wilken is ITA’s Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen
This is the fifth post in a blog series about the different markets that will be featured during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia.
In less than 100 days, the International Trade Administration will lead the U.S. Government’s largest annual trade mission, Trade Winds, to six markets across Europe and Eurasia. Numerous innovative U.S. businesses representing a variety of industries participating in Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia will engage in tailored meetings and networking opportunities with foreign buyers, distributors, and investors to help U.S. businesses identify and capitalize on export opportunities.
Between May 16-17, Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia will feature a stop in Copenhagen, Denmark. If your business is looking for an advanced, high-income and highly connected market that can serve as a gateway to the Nordic region, then you should strongly consider exploring opportunities in the Danish market.
Trade and commerce have been at the heart of the U.S.-Denmark relationship since its inception. In fact, the United States and Denmark established a commercial treaty nearly 20 years before establishing formal diplomatic relations. Over the past decade, bilateral trade between our countries has steadily increased, reaching $14.5 billion in 2022, with U.S. firms playing an important role across a variety of sectors in Denmark, including information and communications technologies, business and financial services, as well as pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
A founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Denmark has made commitments to increase defense spending to two percent of GDP, which presents expanded opportunities for U.S. companies in the commercial space technology sector, drone/unmanned aerial vehicle industry and in the defense supply chain.
Denmark has also made strong commitments to increasing its renewable energy supplies to realize its climate goals. These commitments will present new opportunities for U.S. companies with products and services in the wind energy, carbon capture, waste reduction and e-fuel production supply chains to play a leading role in Denmark’s continued green transition.
There is also demand for high quality medical devices and healthcare services to support the country’s ageing population.
Given its open market, strategic location, and strong business environment, Denmark was a compelling destination to select as a mission stop for Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia. For more information and registration for Trade Winds or the optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings in Denmark or other mission stops, please visit the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia webpage.
Isabella Cascarano is the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rome
This is the fourth post in a blog series about the different markets that will be featured during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia.
This May, the U.S. Government’s largest annual trade mission—Trade Winds—is heading to Europe and Eurasia! Dozens of U.S. businesses of all shapes, sizes, and sectors will travel across six countries to strike deals with foreign buyers, distributors, and partners. They’ll be accompanied by ITA commercial diplomats and trade professionals who are experts across the continent. One of our early mission stops will be in Milan, Italy between May 9-10, 2024.
With the third-largest economy in the EU and eighth largest economy in the world, Italy is one of the United States’ strongest trading partners, with our total trade reaching $116.8 billion in 2022. A mature, sophisticated and competitive market, Italy offers significant opportunities for U.S. companies that produce innovative, cutting-edge solutions across a variety of sectors, ranging from advanced manufacturing to medical devices, to energy and environmental technologies.
U.S. companies seeking to enter or expand their presence in the Italian market may be interested in opportunities presented by the Government of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The NRRP is a multi-faceted strategic effort that aims to allocate nearly $200 billion to structural reforms and investments across six targeted policy areas, each of which present opportunities for U.S. businesses. The targeted sectors are:
Digitalization, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism;
Green revolution and ecological transition;
Infrastructure and sustainability mobility;
Education and research;
Inclusion and cohesion; and
Health
The Italian market also offers significant prospects for U.S. companies in the information and communications technology and cybersecurity sectors. In May 2022, ITA led a Minority Business Focused Trade Mission to Italy, Spain, and Portugal, which had a mission stop in Milan that has generated five export successes for participating U.S. companies in the information technology, cybersecurity, digital publishing and industrial technologies sectors.
Given the significant prospects for U.S. exporters producing innovative products and services, ITA selected Italy as one of the stops during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia. For more information and registration for Trade Winds or the optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings in Denmark, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, and/or Türkiye, please visit the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia webpage.
Evan Johnson and Garrett Mitchell are International Trade Specialists in ITA’s Office of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia
Last month, government, civil society and the private sector representatives from around the world gathered at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to renew commitments to combatting climate change.
In his recent paper, Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, a Senior Fellow at the Caspian Policy Center begins with the statement, “nowhere are the challenges highlighted in the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) more impactful to millions of people than in Central Asia.”
With one third of the region’s glaciers melted, 90 percent of the Aral Sea’s volume having disappeared, and with four of the five Central Asian countries facing water-related stresses, it is clear that the realities of climate change have drastically impacted Central Asia’s water resources.
In addition to climate-induced challenges, the region’s inefficient agricultural practices are also contributing to dwindling water resources. Soviet-era river diversion projects rerouted water destined for the Aral Sea to cotton, wheat, and rice farms. Years later, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development described the Aral Sea as one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in modern history. What was once the world’s fourth largest lake is now over 13 million acres of desert. Scientists are concerned a similar fate could befall Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water.
These pressing issues will require innovative solutions to reverse the degradation of regional water supplies and revitalize crumbling drainage and irrigation systems. As ITA’s Under Secretary Marisa Lago has stated, nations alone are not going to meet their climate commitments without partnership with the private sector and tapping into their innovation and expertise.
As global leaders in climate and clean tech solutions, U.S. companies are well positioned to meet this need. In a new market intelligence brief, ITA’s Office of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia highlights current and emerging opportunities for U.S. companies providing technologies, services, and financial and other types of management systems—from canal lining and meters to capacity building trainings on corporate governance and financial management—that will help the Government of Uzbekistan make their water supplies and management systems more efficient and resilient.
Non-profit organizations may also consider applying to the International Trade Administration’s Market Development Cooperator Program. Chosen eligible U.S. entities will receive up to $300,000 in matching funds to pursue a 3-5 year project designed to help U.S. companies export.
ITA produces market intelligence briefs highlighting opportunities around the globe across numerous industries. Visit our market intelligence page to learn more.
James Lindley is the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw
This is the third post in a blog series about the different markets that will be featured during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia.
In just under four months, the U.S. government’s largest annual trade mission, Trade Winds, is heading to Europe and Eurasia! Bringing numerous innovative U.S. businesses to six European and Eurasian markets—including an optional stop in Warsaw, Poland—Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia will feature tailored meeting and networking opportunities with foreign buyers, investors and distributors to help U.S. businesses capitalize on export opportunities abroad.
If your business is looking for a large export market, tariff-free access to the EU, political stability and a well-educated workforce, opportunities abound in Poland. A stalwart ally in Central Europe and the sixth largest economy in Europe, Poland offers U.S. companies numerous opportunities for growth across an array of sectors, including defense, energy, digital and ICT, transportation infrastructure and environmental technologies.
A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member since 1999, Poland has surpassed its commitment to spend at least two percent of GDP on defense. According to recent NATO data, Poland was well on its way to exceeding four percent of GDP on annual defense spending in 2023. As such, U.S. businesses in the defense sector are well positioned to succeed in Poland given our close relationship on NATO capabilities, counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and missile defense.
Companies in the energy and clean tech sectors will also find opportunities in Poland. Last year, Poland selected Westinghouse and Bechtel to build the country’s first-ever civil nuclear power plant, an investment that could eventually top $40 billion. That said, the civil nuclear sector is by no means the only energy sector in Poland poised to grow in the coming years. Poland also seeks to increase its energy independence and diversify away from coal to meet its domestic and EU climate goals, presenting opportunities for companies in the offshore wind, solar and hydrogen sectors.
Poland also aims to implement a digitization strategy to modernize its digital infrastructure and to defend itself against cybercrime incidents, which have been increasing since Russia began its unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Given the U.S. private sector’s leadership and innovation in the information communication technologies (ICT) and cybersecurity sectors, U.S. companies can play a leading role in providing the technical products and solutions to meet Poland’s digitization and cybersecurity goals.
Poland has also been, and will continue to be, a key player in supporting Ukraine’s recovery, particularly as it relates to infrastructure. Most aid dispatched to Ukraine travels through Poland. Therefore, collaboration with Polish companies and building supply chains through Poland will be critical to supporting Ukraine’s longer-term recovery.
For all these reasons and more, it is no surprise that the International Trade Administration selected Poland as one of the stops during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia, which will take place between May 16-17, 2024. For more information and registration for Trade Winds or the optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings in Poland, Türkiye, Italy, Romania, Denmark and/or Kazakhstan, please visit the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia webpage.
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Laura Gimenez is ITA’s Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest
This is the 2nd post in a blog series about the different markets that will be featured during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia.
Trade Winds, the U.S. government’s largest annual trade mission, is only four months away! In May, hundreds of U.S. companies will gather with foreign buyers, investors and distributors to explore international sales opportunities in Europe and Eurasia, including an optional stop in Bucharest, Romania between May 9-10, 2024.
Located on the Black Sea, Romania sits at the nexus of Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East and offers opportunities for U.S. businesses in a variety of sectors. Furthermore, our commercial relationship is on the rise—over the past decade, total U.S.-Romania trade has almost doubled, reaching over $5.1 billion in 2022.
A member of the European Union (EU), Romania has access to the EU’s Cohesion Fund, which aims to strengthen certain EU Member States’ social and economic integration into the EU. In particular, these funds contribute to investment in infrastructure, energy, healthcare and IT systems—all of which present opportunities for U.S. exporters exploring the Romanian market.
In light of Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and Romania’s need to meet its renewable energy objectives, Romania also seeks to increase its independence and security in both the energy and agribusiness sectors. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation are interested in financing projects across many sectors in Romania, with particular attention to energy.
Romania is also a strong North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, spending approximately 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense in 2023. Last year, the International Trade Administration brought 23 U.S. defense and aerospace exporters to Romania for a two-day trade mission, during which nearly 300 tailored business-to-business and business-to-government meetings took place. Needless to say, there is strong demand in the Romanian market for innovative U.S.-made defense solutions.
In addition, Romania is an information technology leader in Europe, with the highest number of certified IT specialists per capita on the continent, according to the Romanian National Institute of Statistics. The country is a hub for tech business and innovation, with the sector in Romania having quadrupled its size in both revenue and workforce over the past several years.
For all these reasons and more, it is no surprise that Romania was selected as a mission stop for the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia on May 9-10, 2024. For more information and registration for Trade Winds Business Forum in Istanbul, May 13-15, and other mission stops in Italy, Poland, Türkiye, Denmark and/or Kazakhstan, please visit the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia webpage.
Grant T. Harris is the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry & Analysis
This is the fourth piece in a blog series about the 2023 National Export Strategy, a government-wide strategic plan to support American businesses through trade promotion activities. This article focuses on the Travel and Tourism chapter of the National Export Strategy. This post contains external links. Please review our external linking policy.
The holiday travel season is here! As families and friends gather for celebrations, it’s a great time to spotlight a critical driver of economic growth and employment in the United States: the travel and tourism industry.
You’ve seen the headlines: Travel is back, and travelers from all over the nation and world are bringing immense economic benefits to communities across the country. In 2021, $1.7 trillion of economic activity was generated by the travel and tourism industry, and nearly 1 in every 20 jobs in the United States relies directly or indirectly on this sector. The Department of Commerce has made it a top priority to strengthen our nation’s global competitiveness in travel and tourism, and to create a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable travel and tourism industry for the future.
We are hard at work implementing the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy and, as we head into the holiday season, we wanted to highlight five things you need to know about travel and tourism in the United States:
1. Travel to the United States is bouncing back
ITA’s National Travel and Tourism Office forecasts that we are on track to reach the National Travel and Tourism Strategy’s goal of welcoming 90 million visitors to the United States by 2027. These visitors are estimated to spend $279 billion annually. This is positive news and is based on data that ITA’s economists collect and analyze from the Survey of International Air Travelers and other sources. In 2022, nearly 51 million international visitors came to the United States—more than double the number from 2021. Those travelers spent $165 billion on goods and services, supporting more than 1 million American jobs. In the first nine months of 2023, international visitation to the United States reached 82% of what it was pre-pandemic—a significant improvement from 61% during the first eight months of 2022.
2. We are working to meet visa demand and enhance the travel experience
The U.S. Department of State is issuing visas at a record pace as demand for travel to the United States around the world continues to surge following the pandemic. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection agency is expanding biometric entry and exit through public-private partnerships with airlines and airports to enhance security and the travel experience.
3. We are working to make destinations more accessible for travelers with disabilities
The U.S. Government wants to facilitate travel opportunities for people with disabilities. One way we’re doing that is by better communicating accessibility information to the public so that more travelers can enjoy national parks, historical and landmark destinations, and natural attractions. For instance, the National Park Service launched a new resource to help travelers with disabilities plan trips by providing information on accessible features and services at national parks. Ocean lovers who visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries also will benefit from newly developed and installed accessible exhibits on local marine life.
4. We are mobilizing resources to accelerate recovery for the travel and tourism industry
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration invested $750 million from funding that was passed through the American Rescue Plan to support travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation communities hard hit by the pandemic. Today, funding is being invested in every state and territory across 185 awards, and communities are using these investments to rebuild the travel and tourism sector and create a more equitable, competitive, and resilient industry.
5. We are working to make travel and tourism communities more resilient
Today, federal funds are also being used to support communities across America as they enhance their capacity and ability to benefit from travel and tourism. One way we are making travel and tourism communities more resilient is by protecting coastal communities from the climate crisis through historic investments, including from the Inflation Reduction Act. These efforts include supporting rural and tribal communities by helping them to leverage the power of the growing outdoor recreation economy.
These are just a few of many examples, and we hope for more good news in the new year. If you are interested in learning more, check out the National Travel and Tourism Strategy and the many other sectors of that drive the U.S. economy in the 2023 National Export Strategy.
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Yasue Pai is the Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul
This is the first post in a blog series about the different markets that will be featured during Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia.
In May 2024, the U.S. government’s largest annual trade mission, Trade Winds, is heading to Europe and Eurasia. Led by the International Trade Administration (ITA), Trade Winds is a multi-country trade mission and business development forum that provides U.S. businesses with the expertise of commercial diplomats from over 25 European and Eurasian markets, and connects them with potential business partners across the region. It also provides numerous networking opportunities for U.S. businesses interested in entering (or expanding their presence in) international markets around the world.
This year, the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia Trade Mission and Business Forum will be hosted in Istanbul, Türkiye from May 13-15, 2024. Straddling two continents and situated at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, Türkiye has always been an important hub for trade and international commerce. Beyond its natural appeal as a travel destination, Türkiye is also home to a strong consumer market, as well as a young and vibrant workforce, making it a critical commercial center for U.S. companies doing business in the region. It is no surprise that Istanbul was selected as this year’s Trade Winds Forum destination.
The trade relationship between the United States and Türkiye has accelerated over the past decade, with our trade in goods reaching over $34 billion in 2022, and overall trade increasing by over 80% in that timespan. What’s more, well over 1,000 U.S. firms have been active and thriving in Türkiye for decades. Many of the most iconic U.S. brands, including Ford and General Electric, enjoy widespread favorability by consumers and rely on the market for their regional headquarters overseeing business activities in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
U.S. companies in leading industries and sectors with potential for growth in Türkiye include but are not limited to: advanced manufacturing, aerospace technology and equipment, environmental and clean technologies, information and communications technology, medical technology and health IT, transportation technology and equipment, as well as renewable energy/energy security. For more details, take a look at our Country Commercial Guide or this brief market overview.
The United States government is also actively interested in supporting Türkiye’s green transition. The U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) can offer U.S. companies financing for renewable energy projects in Türkiye. The Turkish government has also prioritized renewable energy. Currently, 54% of the country’s installed electricity capacity comes from renewable sources.
As the numbers indicate, there is significant momentum in our trade relationship as well as potential for growth!
Registration for Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia’s Business Forum in Istanbul is now open! For more information and registration for Trade Winds or the optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings in Türkiye, Italy, Romania, Denmark, Poland and/or Kazakhstan from May 9-17, 2024, please visit https://events.trade.gov/TradeWindsEuropeEurasia.
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