U.S. Commerce Officials to Engage World's Leading Experts on Competitiveness Issues at Harvard Business School Forum

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, and Ro Khanna, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations, will participate in a panel discussion entitled: Innovation and Exporting: Drivers of U.S. Economic Growth, on October 4, 2010, at Harvard University.  The event will include Harvard professors Michael Porter and Lawrence Lessig.

The panel event will provide insight into U.S. competitiveness and innovation issues, including competitiveness perspectives in relation to China, India, and Brazil; as well as highlighting the National Export Initiative (NEI) and U.S. Commercial Service export programs.

Additionally, the program will address Obama Administration efforts to increase innovation.  These include additional transportation infrastructure spending, making permanent the existing temporary R&D tax credit, and temporarily allowing businesses to deduct 100% of the cost of new investments in plant and equipment.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts indicate that almost 90 percent of world economic growth over the next five years will take place outside of the United States—with emerging and developing country imports expected to grow the fastest at over 12 percent.  As global markets become increasingly interconnected, it is critical that the U.S. maintain and promote a highly competitive export economy.  

WHO:  Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service

Professor Michael Porter, Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, Harvard Business School

Professor Lawrence Lessig, Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard Law School

Ro Khanna, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce

WHAT: Remarks and Panel Discussion:  Innovation and Exporting: Drivers of U.S. Economic Growth

WHEN: Monday, October 4, 2010, 5:15-6:45 p.m.

WHERE: Harvard Law School, Austin Hall Ames Courtroom

1563 Massachusetts Ave - Cambridge, MA  02138

International Trade Administration

The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 77 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.

SOURCE U.S. Commercial Service