Jump to main content.

THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE

This site contains information that has been considered archived and will no longer be updated. Please click here to go to the CURRENT eda.gov website.

A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce
Newsroom

Newsroom

Press Release

U.S. Commerce Department to Lead U.S. Trade & Investment Program to HANNOVER MESSE 2011

March 18, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

Participants to promote U.S. communities at the world's largest industrial technology showcase

WASHINGTON - In support of the Obama administration's National Export Initiative (NEI) and to attract U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) and International Trade Administration (ITA) are partnering to lead a U.S. Trade & Investment Program to HANNOVER MESSE 2011, the world's largest industrial technology showcase, from April 3-8, 2011 in Hannover, Germany. By leading regional business clusters abroad, the Department of Commerce is aiding communities in promoting their regions as ideal locations to do business.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Brian McGowan and ITA's Director of the Invest in America program Aaron Brickman will co-lead the mission that focuses on increasing U.S. exports and attracting FDI to the United States.

"Our nation is a leader in innovation and a place of limitless opportunity," said McGowan. "EDA is proud to collaborate in this important program to help U.S. communities promote themselves as strong trading partners and attractive locations for international investment."

"HANNOVER MESSE is a huge draw for the world's top companies, including many poised for global expansion," said Brickman. "Invest in America is pleased to be able to help U.S. economic development organizations leverage this unique opportunity."

HANNOVER MESSE 2011 will provide the industrial community the opportunity to promote business initiatives in 13 industries - Industrial Automation; Motion, Drive & Automation; Energy; Power Plant Technology; Wind; MobiliTec; Digital Factory; ComVac; Industrial Supply; CoilTechnica; SurfaceTechnology; MicroNanoTec; and Research & Technology.

Trade and investment between the United States and Germany are strong. Germany is the United States' fifth largest trading partner, with total merchandise trade of $131 billion in 2010. Similarly, Germany was the fifth largest investor in the United States in 2009, with German FDI into the United States totaling $259 billion. U.S. affiliates of German firms employed approximately 614,200 people in the U.S. in 2008.

EDA will support communities by covering $875 of the $1,875 program costs. Participants will still be responsible for the balance of the program cost and for all travel, lodging and incidental expenses. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, March 22, 2011.

U.S. program participants will consist of state and local government officials focused on economic development, university officials engaged in economic development, and other non-profit economic development practitioners.

The following organizations have been selected for participation in the U.S. Trade & Investment Program to HANNOVER MESSE 2011 to date:

  • CT—State of Connecticut
  • DE—World Trade Center Delaware
  • FL—Hillsborough Community College
  • GA—State of Georgia
  • IN—Anderson/Madison County Economic Development Corporation
  • IN—City of Anderson
  • IN—Vermillion County-West Central Indiana
  • MA—Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • MI—Detroit Regional Economic Partnership
  • MI—Macomb County
  • MI—Oakland County
  • MI—City of Auburn Hills
  • OH—Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium
  • PA—York County Economic Development Corporation
  • PA—Berks Economic Partnership
  • TN—State of Tennessee
  • TN—West Tennessee Industrial Development Association
  • TN—Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
  • TN—City of Humboldt
  • UT—State of Utah
  • WI—Milwaukee 7
  • WI—Racine County Economic Development Corporation
  • WI—City of Milwaukee
  • WV—State of West Virginia

Additional information about the U.S. Trade & Investment Program to HANNOVER MESSE 2011 is available at http://www.eda.gov/tradeandinvestmentprograms/upcomingevents.xml. For more information regarding ITA's Invest in America, visit http://www.investamerica.gov.