September 2010
Welcome to the latest update from Invest in America, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s program to promote foreign direct investment to the United States This monthly update is meant to provide a few quick points highlighting some activities of Invest in America.
Invest in America Outreach
Invest in America will participate in:
- AmCham Germany Business Luncheon, Hamburg, Germany, October 1, 2010
- International Business Symposium, Springfield, Massachusetts, October 7, 2010
- Virginia Economic Developers Association – Fall Conference, Virginia Beach, Virginia, October 14
- U.S. Cleantech Trade and Investment Mission to Lyon, France and Brussels, Belgium, November 29 through December 4, 2010
- International Association of Exhibitions & Events – Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 9, 2010
Recent Invest in America participation:
- “Doing Business in the U.S.” Presentation on U.S. FDI Climate, Italian Consulate, New York, New York, September 27, 2010
- IEDC Conference Panel Discussion, Economic Development in a Spiky World: Tapping into Emerging Markets, Columbus, Ohio, September 29
- Council of American States in Europe (CASE) Seminars in the United Kingdom, events in Leeds on September 28, and Birmingham on September 29, 2010
- Danish American Business Forum (DABF), The U.S. Can Help You Grow Your Business, Copenhagen, September 30, 2010
Reports of Note
According to the UNCTAD’s recently released World Investment Prospects Survey: 2010-2012, multinational firms and national investment promotion agencies are increasingly optimistic about the international investment environment and their prospects for increased FDI over the near term.
Industry Week’s recent article, Coming to America, explored the growing prominence of Chinese-owned firms in the U.S. manufacturing sector. According to the article, it is difficult to fully understand the extent of Chinese FDI in the U.S. since much of it arrives through tax havens. Once the FDI does arrive, profits realized by the Chinese firms tend to be reinvested, further buttressing local economies throughout the U.S.
Venture Capital (VC) and Private Equity (PE) funds scour the globe for investment opportunities in high growth, high tech business sectors. According to The Global Venture Capital and Private Equity Country Attractiveness Index, which was released in late 2009, the U.S. is the #1 most attractive country for VC and PE investors for the 2009/2010 time period. The report, sponsored by IESE Business School in Barcelona, Ernst & Young, and DLA Piper, found that the highly developed expertise of U.S. VC and PE professionals, coupled with U.S. entrepreneurial business models and the depth of U.S. capital markets created unparalleled macro-opportunities for VC and PE investors.
Data
- Inquiries to date in 2010: 181
- Ombudsman cases in 2010: 20
Invest in America’s ombudsman program has achieved a number of successes in working across the federal government to address investor concerns and issues involving federal agencies. If a foreign investor has a federal-level issue that is jeopardizing an investment in the United States, please contact Aaron Brickman at 202-482-5199 or email Invest in America ataaron.brickman@trade.gov.
We invite you to connect with us through the “Invest in America” group on Linkedin.com.
Please address all comments and suggestions to info@investamerica.gov. For more information about Invest in America, please visit our website at www.investamerica.gov.
