Carnegie Mellon University
October 02, 2012

Media Advisory: US Commerce Undersecretary for International Trade To Speak at Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College Oct. 3

Contact: Ken Walters / 412-268-1151 / walters1@andrew.cmu.edu

Event: Francisco J. Sánchez, the U.S. Department of Commerce's undersecretary of commerce for international trade, will speak at Carnegie Mellon University's H. John Heinz III College. A Heinz College Convocation, the title of his speech is "Commercial Diplomacy: How International Trade Drives Economic Growth."

Appointed to his post by President Barack Obama in 2009, Sánchez leads the International Trade Administration (ITA), an organization of 2,400 employees with offices throughout the United States and in 72 countries. Sánchez leads the efforts to improve the global business environment by helping U.S. businesses compete abroad.

As one of the architects of President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI), with the ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014, Sánchez directs programs and policies that promote and protect the competitiveness of American businesses. Under his leadership, and by working with partners in government, the ITA has helped reach significant export milestones. In 2011, U.S. exports reached a record $2.1 trillion in total value supporting nearly 10 million jobs, an increase of 1.2 million since 2009. 

When: 12:15 -1:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3

Where: Hamburg Hall, 4800 Forbes Avenue, Room 1000, on CMU's Pittsburgh campus

Contact: Ken Walters, 412-268-1151, 412-480-4396 (cell), walters1@andrew.cmu.edu

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