Antwaun Griffin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and NCIV President Dr. Jennifer Clinton finalized the agreement at a signing ceremony held in Chatham University’s Andrew Mellon Hall in Pittsburgh. Under the new agreement, NCIV and its more than 90 community-based member organizations will work with USFCS to promote greater collaboration between the business community; American colleges and universities;
This partnership will help “NCIV members raise the international profile of their community and create vital person-to-person ties that further international understanding, collaboration, and development,”
Pittsburgh serves as a great example of the NCIV-USFCS partnership in action. GlobalPittsburgh, NCIV’s local member organization, in partnership with the local branch of the Commercial Service, leads the Study Pittsburgh / GlobalPittsburgh Educational Partnership, a consortium of 17 member colleges and universities interested in international education. Education is counted as a leading U.S. export, with the tuition of international students having significant economic benefits.
The NCIV-USFCS partnership is part of the National Exporters Initiative (NEI). In 2010, President Obama announced the NEI with the goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014. The partnership supports this goal by educating U.S. exporters, particularly small- and medium-sized companies, about the benefits exporting and expanding their exports to additional markets, and the public and private sector resources to assist them.
About the National Council for International Visitors
The National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) represents a nationwide network of 94 community organizations as well as program agencies, associate members, and individuals. With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations design and implement professional programs, provide cultural activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign leaders and specialists participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchange programs. NCIV members are experts at connecting their local resources and professionals with visiting decision makers. Each year, the aggregate efforts of NCIV members engage more than 40,000 volunteers. More information is available at http://www.nciv.org
About the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. USFCS support American businesses with numerous trade promotion activities including trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, advocacy, commercial diplomacy, and trade promotion programs. More information is available at http://trade.gov/
