Last month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker outlined the U.S. Commerce Department’s bold new policy agenda focused on U.S. trade and investment, innovation, and data. These core areas reflect the department’s role as the voice of business and embody the attributes of a globally competitive economy. And they signal that the United States and the Department of Commerce are indeed, “open for business,” and focused on economic growth and job creation.
Among the new initiatives Secretary Pritzker announced are the next phase of the National Export Initiative; an enhanced and expanded program to attract foreign investment; a first-time Commerce effort to ensure skills training programs meet industry needs; and public-private partnerships that enable businesses and communities to make better use of government data.
Secretary Pritzker also committed to leading a robust environment agenda at Commerce, and to ensuring that operational excellence and public accountability are a top priority of departmental leadership.
The Commerce Department plan builds on the significant progress the U.S. economy has made in recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression: more than 8 million new private sector jobs added in the last 45 months; GDP at an all-time high; more exports than ever before; and a resilient manufacturing sector.
The “Open for Business” Agenda complements the broader Obama Administration blueprint for rebuilding the economy from the middle out, which calls for long-term fiscal reform, rate-lowering business tax reform, investments in infrastructure and education, and comprehensive immigration reform.
To learn more about the “Open for Business” Agenda visit: http://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2013/11/14/fact-sheet-us-department-commerce-open-business-agenda.
