United States Deputy Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank has announced that the inaugural SelectUSA Investment Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2013.

The summit will be the first of its kind, connecting businesses and investors from around the world with economic development organizations (EDOs) from across the country in an effort to promote investment in the U.S. and support the creation of American jobs. The two-day event will also amplify the work of SelectUSA in delivering on President Obama’s agenda to increase direct investment in the U.S. as a way to spur economic growth and create jobs.

In 2012, nearly $168 billion in foreign direct investment flowed into the U.S. Data from 2012 indicate that affiliates of foreign firms employed more than 5.3 million American workers at an average salary of nearly $70,000 per year. While these are strong statistics, SelectUSA aims to further expand foreign investment in the U.S.

The investment summit will bring together international and domestic investors; national, regional, state and local EDOs; senior Obama Administration officials; business leaders; and industry and technical experts, providing them with a forum to learn about the benefits of locating or expanding their operations in the U.S. During the two-day event, participants also will be able to explore potential investment opportunities in this country, as well as share best practices and build networks.

Located within the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA leads the federal government efforts to promote the U.S. as the premier global investment destination, and facilitates investment in the U.S. The program provides information assistance to the global investment community, serves as an ombudsman for investors and advocates for U.S. cities, states and regions competing for global investment.

Source: SelectUSA