National Business League and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration Sign Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Agreement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2022
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@trade.gov
WASHINGTON — The National Business League (NBL) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to promote the competitiveness of U.S. industry, improve the global business environment, and provide opportunities and resources to meet the export needs of Black-owned businesses.
“We look forward to working with the National Business League as an ITA Strategic Partner to increase U.S. trade and investment and help U.S. companies compete in the global marketplace,” said ITA’s Global Diversity Export Initiative Director Terri Batch. “The signing of this MOA provides opportunities for future collaboration to ensure minority-owned companies can grow stronger here at home and also compete abroad. Through this Strategic Partnership, NBL members and U.S. Black-owned businesses on the whole, will have greater awareness of resources and existing and emerging export opportunities around the world.”
“The NBL looks forward to launching this commerce-driven and value-add Strategic Partnership with ITA,” said Dr. Ken L. Harris, NBL President and CEO. “A collaboration with ITA provides a competitive advantage in the marketplace. This Partnership will enable a stronger platform for us to support Black-owned businesses in the areas of U.S. trade and foreign investment.”
Upon signing the MOA, the NBL and ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service’s network of worldwide offices will collaborate on marketing, educational programs and events leveraging both entities’ expertise to help make U.S. businesses—and particularly Black-owned businesses—more export savvy. Joint activities will include building awareness through outreach and participation at trade shows, export seminars, and trade education events.
The Strategic Partnership provides a collaborative framework that supports ITA’s goal of expanding U.S. exports by increasing NBL member companies’ awareness of the benefits of exporting, and of the public and private sector resources available to pursue export markets.
To learn about upcoming business education events, U.S. businesses can visit the Global Diversity Export Initiative website.
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About the National Business League
The National Business League was founded on August 23, 1900, by Booker T. Washington and is the first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan and nonsectarian Black business and professional trade association in the country. It has 120,000 members nationwide and 125 Fortune 500 corporate partners, with regional offices in Atlanta, GA, Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA, and Washington, DC, as well as city league chapters throughout all 50 states and internationally. The organization advocates for the interest of 3.2 million Black businesses throughout the United States and abroad. Website.
About the U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its network includes 100+ offices across the United States and in American embassies and consulates in more than 75 international markets. Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand to additional markets, we offer the expertise U.S. businesses need to help connect them with opportunities worldwide. Contact your local U.S. Commercial Service Office.
