Invest in America

Invest in America is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration to promote foreign direct investment to the United States, the only such U.S. effort at the federal level.

On March 7, 2007, U.S. Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Frank Lavin announced the creation of Invest in America, housed in the International Trade Administration, which promotes the United States as a destination for inward direct investment, also known as foreign direct investment. [ [http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/March/20070307172013saikceinawz0.2464868.html U.S. Initiative Aims To Smooth Way for Foreign Investment ] ] Invest in America is the primary U.S. Government mechanism to manage foreign direct investment promotion.www.investamerica.gov] Efforts are focused on outreach to foreign governments and investors, support for state governments’ investment promotion efforts, and addressing business climate concerns by serving as ombudsman in Washington for the international investment community.

Invest in America reinforces President Bush’s [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070510-3.html statement on open economies] of earlier this year that reaffirmed the commitment by the United States to promote open investment policies. [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070510-3.html President Bush's Statement on Open Economies ] ] Through Invest in America, the Department of Commerce promotes the U.S. economy as the best place in the world to do business.

Mission

According to the Invest in America website, Invest in America promotes and supports foreign direct investment in the United States, contributing to U.S. job creation, innovation, and competitiveness.

Activities

Policy: Invest in America endeavors to bolster the global competitiveness of the United States economy by addressing policy issues that concern foreign investors. Invest in America recently published a policy paper entitled, “Visas and Foreign Direct Investment.” [ [http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_004714.pdf Visas and foreign direct investment; supporting U.S. competitiveness by facilitating international travel ] ] In addition to raising awareness of this issue, Invest in America is now actively engaged with stakeholders to address specific challenges raised in this paper. [ [http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/SecretarySpeeches/PROD01_004716 Department of Commerce - Secretary's Speeches - Remarks at the Organization for International Investment Annual Dinner ] ]

Ombudsman: Invest in America serves as ombudsman in Washington, D.C. for the international investment community, working across the Federal Government to act as a voice to address investor concerns and issues involving Federal agencies.http://www.trade.gov/investamerica/invest-america.pdf] Invest in America receives inquiries from potential and current foreign investors with regard to issues encountered within the Federal bureaucracy.Promotion: Invest in America promotes investment in the United States by highlighting the advantages of investing in the United States, and countering the misconceptions some investors may have. Invest in America meets regularly with both domestic and international stakeholders and organizes events such as "Invest in America Week." [ [http://trade.gov/investamerica/investinamericaweek.asp Invest in America Week 2008 ] ] The Department of Commerce’s global network provides the platform to educate international investors on the advantages that come with investing in the United States. According to the Invest in America website, Invest in America welcomes all inquiries and is equipped to serve as a foreign investor’s first point of contact for an investment in the United States.

State Cooperation: Invest in America serves a federal complement to existing U.S. state efforts. Invest in America complements state efforts, but remains neutral in any competition between them. Invest in America promotes the United States, not specific states, as the premier site for foreign direct investment.Invest in America can provide all potential investors an investment contact list encompassing all fifty States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. This guide provides the economic development point of contact within each state who has been designated by each Governor to field international investment inquiries. [http://www.trade.gov/investamerica/contact_list.pdf]

Aaron Brickman is director of Invest in America.

References

External links

* [http://www.investamerica.gov/ Invest in America website]
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070510-2.html/ Open Economies Policy Statement]