YOUNGSTOWN 2 trade officials to speak at export summit

Staff report

youngstown

Two top trade officials in the Obama administration will be keynote speakers at the TechBelt Export Summit here in June.

U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco J. Sanchez and Fred Hochberg, chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., will speak. The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is hosting the summit.

The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. June 18 at the D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park, 123 McKinley Ave.

Sanchez leads the International Trade Administration, which assists in the develop-ment of U.S. trade policy in the global economy; creates jobs and economic growth by promoting U.S. companies; strengthens American competitiveness across all industries; addresses market access and compliance issues; administers U.S. trade laws; and undertakes a range of trade promotion and trade-advocacy efforts.

Hochberg will speak on the vast capabilities of the Ex-Im bank in assisting companies with financing their exports in many different industries.

In 2011, Ex-Im’s overall financing for the first time exceeded $32 billion and supported $40.6 billion in exports and about 290,000 export-related American jobs at more than 3,600 U.S. companies.

Introductory remarks will be given by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, who will highlight the growing importance of exporting as an integral part of Ohio and the American economy.

The cost to attend is $35 and includes lunch. For information and to register, call Jennifer Mascardine at 330-744-2131, ext. 12, or email Jennifer@regionalchamber.com.