Remarks by Under Secretary Marisa Lago at the 2024 U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit’s Building Bridges to Global Markets Session - APRIL 23
Washington, DC
April 23, 2024
As Prepared
Good afternoon, everyone. Special thanks to Ramiro, Allyson and April for your warm welcome.
I especially want to recognize two of our valued Strategic Partners: the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the World Trade Center of Washington, D.C. Thank you both for sponsoring today’s program and for your gracious hospitality.
I’m delighted to be opening today’s Building Bridges to Global Markets program. This program, in which I’ve had the pleasure of participating in communities across the United States, brings the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s first-rate trade experts directly to underserved communities across our nation.
We demystify some of the most common barriers to exploring international trade, such as how to access financing, how to manage risks, and how to take advantage of the latest data and trends about international markets.
As I emphasized in the USHCC luncheon earlier today, and as I can’t say frequently enough, equity is a core priority for our ITA team.
An enduring strength of the vibrant U.S. economy is its diversity — which means that advancing inclusive, equitable growth is not simply about increasing the dollar value of exports, but also about expanding the pool of U.S. businesses that export.
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises — as well as businesses from historically underserved communities — hold huge potential. But these businesses often face obstacles to accessing the benefits of international trade, such as the challenges of identifying and vetting potential business partners in overseas markets.
That’s exactly why today’s Building Bridges event is so valuable. It’s a practical step towards connecting the businesses that you represent to both the contacts and ready-to-use resources that will help you to maximize the opportunities available in international markets.
Naturally, I’m very proud of the expert services that ITA provides at Building Bridges events. But I’m even prouder of the fact that these events include the participation of pros from across the U.S. government, including ace representatives from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency, as well as our valued colleagues from state and local economic development and trade organizations.
The folks that you’ll be hearing from today will provide you with the latest information about accessing capital and finding the right international buyers. They can also answer other questions that you might have.
And, beyond today’s panels, I highly encourage you to connect with your local U.S. Export Assistance Centers. These EACs, which are located in over 100 U.S. communities, should always be a stop when you’re exploring opportunities in markets abroad.
Now, before we move to our panel, we have some important business to do. I’m thrilled to present an Export Achievement Certificate to an incredibly impressive Hispanic-owned small business that’s here in the audience today. Based in Reston, Virginia, which is under 20 miles from here, Aeronautical Systems Incorporated provides specialized services in aeronautical engineering and supply chain management to military fleets worldwide — including in Singapore.
The company’s president, Carlos Pichardo, is with us today. Carlos, your company is a stellar example of how any business — no matter its size — can successfully export and expand its reach internationally.
Congratulations, and we look forward to many more opportunities to come!