Remarks by Under Secretary Marisa Lago at Trade Winds 2024 Plenary Lunch

Istanbul, Türkiye 
May 14, 2024

As Prepared

Good afternoon, everyone. Hoş geldiniz!

A tremendous thank you to everyone — to all of our team members from across the United States and over 30 countries in Europe and Eurasia — for organizing this incredible event.

And, extra special thanks to the sponsoring organizations that helped make this event possible. We owe our Platinum Sponsors — FedEx, Empire State Development, AmCham Türkiye and the Türkiye-U.S. Business Council — a particular debt of gratitude. 

This is my fifth trip to Türkiye in my life, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome all of you to this year’s Trade Winds in the vibrant city of Istanbul. This historic city offers much more than a scenic backdrop for our gathering. Istanbul is a gateway, a unique destination for the U.S. and Eurasian businesses here today that are eyeing growth in new markets. In fact, Istanbul was the destination for our first-ever Trade Winds, back in 2008.

For centuries, if not millennia, this city has served as a major commercial hub for millions across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
This week, it’s your turn to take advantage of everything that Istanbul has to offer. To forge valuable connections with potential partners, suppliers and buyers that can unlock the next international breakthrough for your business.

Over 120 U.S. companies have traveled across the globe to be here, representing a broad swath of the vibrant U.S. economy — including in manufacturing, services, healthcare, advanced materials, cybersecurity, defense, communications, electronics, agriculture and consumer products.

Your companies hail from 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Over a third are from rural communities or are owned by women, racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, people with disabilities or members of LGBTQI+ communities. From the smallest startup to the largest multinational corporation, every business here today contributes to the diversity that fuels cutting-edge innovation and lasting economic growth.

I also want to recognize the wide array of Turkish and other Eurasian companies that have joined us and that are eager to partner with U.S. businesses to expand across new markets. As trusted local partners, you are indispensable to helping U.S. companies navigate the ins and outs of a new market — sometimes for the very first time.

For all the U.S. businesses here today, know that, as you pursue opportunities in international markets, you have a steadfast partner and advocate in those of us who have the privilege of serving in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration — or ITA. Through ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service, our team of Commercial Officers and trade experts are stationed across over 80 global markets — ready to offer you a full suite of services that will be invaluable in helping you to navigate the intricacies of global markets. From overcoming regulatory hurdles to bridging cultural differences, ITA’s first-rate team is always here to help identify the right partners or overcome challenges in a non-U.S. market.

As for the opportunities before us here in Istanbul, we have countless examples of U.S. companies that have successfully expanded their business abroad, thanks in large part to Trade Winds. These success stories are not only inspirational, but they also offer lessons as many of you embark on your own journeys to expand internationally.

For example, at last year’s Trade Winds in Bangkok, Thailand, a California-based cybersecurity company called Resecurity cultivated connections that ultimately led to five separate agreements with companies in the Philippines that will generate an estimated revenue of $2 million.

Another example, a U.S. satellite company — called Astranis — made connections at last year’s Trade Winds that led to a landmark deal to expand digital connectivity in Indonesia, valued at tens of millions of U.S. dollars.

This week will be filled with new connections, partnership prospects and groundbreaking commercial opportunities. After Istanbul, some of you are going to other markets — to Denmark, Kazakhstan or Poland — just as some of you stopped in Italy or Romania on your way here to Türkiye. 

Wherever U.S. businesses go in the world, you bring the best and most innovative products and services that the United States has to offer. And our team here from the U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to doing whatever we can to help you succeed. It is our privilege and pleasure to serve you.

Now, there’s some important business to do: recognizing five companies here that have received the U.S. Government’s highest honor for exporting to international markets. Established by President John F. Kennedy over six decades ago, the President’s “E” and “E Star” Awards are one of the most prestigious recognitions of U.S. exporters — representing a badge of patriotism in action.

As I recognize the winners, I invite each of you to join me on stage.

Today, we have two winners of the “E” Award for Exports, which recognizes significant export growth over the past four years that is innovative, sustainable and has broad impact.

Our first recipient is Cunsa International, which manufactures nutritional supplements such as multivitamins. Over the past four years, Cunsa International has achieved 50 percent growth in exports and now sells over 400 products across eight countries — from Spain to Mexico, to Chile.

Our second recipient is Resecurity, which delivers cybersecurity products and services across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Over the past four years, Resecurity has expanded its exports to over 20 countries and significantly increased its export sales.     

Next, we have a winner for the “E” Award for Export Service, which recognizes organizations that contribute to the exports of other companies over at least four years. This year’s winner is Direct Online Marketing, a full-service online marketing agency that provides businesses with services ranging from web design to social media advertising, to branding. With over 17 years of experience, the company has helped clients in 150 different countries and across industries spanning healthcare, manufacturing and higher education.

Last, but certainly not least, we have two winners of the “E Star” Award for Export Service, which recognizes companies that previously received an “E” Award and that have continued to promote the exports of others over another four years.

The first “E Star” winner is FedEx, which — as many of you know — provides logistics, transportation and supply chain services around the globe. The “E” Awards Committee was especially impressed by FedEx’s commitment to developing and supporting trade missions and trade promotion events — leveraging the company’s extensive global network of partnerships to help U.S. businesses expand their exports.

The second “E Star” winner is IBT Online, a digital marketing agency. In particular, the “E” Awards Committee recognizes IBT Online’s significant increase in programs to serve small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises, including webinars on how to export in collaboration with federal, state and local governments.

Please join me in congratulating these five stellar companies with a round of applause.

Now, I’ll ask these award winners to join me for a photo.

There is one final bit of business before we close today. All of you here today are now going to be the first to learn where Trade Winds is heading next year: São Paulo, Brazil!

Now, let’s get back to the important — and fun — work of networking!