By attracting more international attendees, organizers of trade shows and events can help the United States double its global exports by 2015, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) announced last week.

In letters to President Barack Obama and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE, said that IAEE members "can be instrumental" in supporting the president's National Export Initiative, an effort announced by the Obama Administration last month that would double U.S. exports over the next five years — supporting 2 million American jobs — by establishing the country's first government-wide export-promotion strategy.

By working with federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Hacker said IAEE members can find ways to attract more travelers to American trade shows so that they can purchase more American products.

"We need to cut through the delays and reduce the obstacles that overseas buyers face when trying to buy U.S. products and services at our members' events in the United States," he wrote in his letter. "We cannot do that alone. We need the enthusiastic cooperation of all key units of government. President Obama has defined an important national initiative, and we think this will help open the right doors to cooperation."

Added IAEE Boar Chair Chris Meyer, CEM, CMP, vice president of sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, "When you think of the events that our American members produce as the sales showrooms of this nation's products and services that they are, it makes great sense to work in tandem with U.S. government officials to make sure that we attract as many global customers who want to buy U.S.-made goods and services as possible. We think that IAEE can be a very powerful force to ensure that the nation meets the president's ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports, but only if there is a systematic and shared strategy between private industry and the U.S. federal government." This page is protected by Copyright laws. Do Not Copy