Secretary Locke to Hold Exports Town Hall With Philly Businesses

Locke to be joined by Gov. Ed Rendell, U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and Mayor Michael Nutter to highlight Obama Administration initiative designed to double exports and support new job creation

PHILADELPHIA, April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will visit Penn Fishing Reels in Philadelphia Friday to discuss President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI) and how it can help U.S. companies of all sizes sell more of their goods and services overseas and support the creation of American jobs. Locke will be joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Following a tour of the company's manufacturing facility, Locke will hold a townhall meeting to highlight government resources available to Philadelphia businesses interested in selling their goods and services abroad. Penn Fishing Reels, part of the Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Company, is a 78-year-old Philadelphia firm that manufactures high-end fishing gear.

The NEI aims to double U.S. exports over the next five years while supporting 2 million American jobs. To reach this goal, the initiative includes increasing trade promotion efforts, expanding all forms of trade advocacy, improving access to credit for businesses that want to export, and continuing the rigorous enforcement of trade laws so that American companies compete on a level playing field. A critical component of stimulating economic growth in the United States is ensuring that U.S. businesses can actively participate in international markets by increasing their exports of goods, services and agricultural products.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Commerce