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For Immediate Release: October 28, 2011
Contact: Lorri Crowley (202) 482-3809
COMMERCE TRADE OFFICIAL HOSTS HISPANIC SUMMIT ON BEHALF OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Assistant Secretary Michael Camuñez highlights job creation, economic development, and border trade opportunities in the El Paso and Las Cruces border region.
EL PASO, Texas - Michael Camuñez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the International Trade Administration, concluded a three day visit to the US-Mexico border region today, where he highlighted The American Jobs Act and the Obama Administration's efforts to grow the economy and create jobs through increased US trade with Mexico.
“The American Jobs Act can put people to work now. It will provide critical tax incentives to help small business create jobs, while making vitally needed investments in infrastructure that will make the US and the border region more competitive.” Camuñez said.
During his visit to the border, Camuñez led a pair of White House Business Council Roundtables with companies from throughout the region, where he received feedback from local business leaders in Texas and New Mexico.
Camuñez said, “Small business is the lifeblood of the economy in the border region and in the country at large. Our discussions have provided invaluable feedback that can help guide our policy initiatives in Washington so that we can better help American businesses compete in the global economy.”
Highlighting the importance of the $400 billion trade relationship between the US and Mexico, Camuñez was joined on his trip by Juan Carlos Baker, Director General of Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, who traveled from Mexico City.
Camuñez participated in the U.S.-Mexico Border Energy Forum Plenary Session, where he offered insight into Commerce’s National Export Initiative activities regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency activities and efforts to support economic development along and across the border.
At the Southwest Maquila Association meeting, Camuñez met with 40 maquila executives, who collectively employee nearly 500,000 people from both sides of the border, to discuss and receive feedback on issues and challenges their businesses are facing.
Camuñez and Baker toured the Bridge of the Americas port and participated in an operation's briefing and a meeting with Customs and Border Protection officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities in cross-border trade.
In Las Cruces, Camuñez led the White House Hispanic Community Action Summit. The goal of the summit is to build relationships by connecting Latino leaders to key Administration decision makers on a wide range of issues. He discussed the Administration’s efforts to create and maintain American jobs through the American Jobs Act.
“The President never lost sight of those hardest hit by the recession, the middle-class and Latinos in particular,” Camuñez said. “For example, this Administration has passed 17 different tax cuts for small businesses, which employ countless Latinos and middle-class Americans of all backgrounds. That is the largest temporary investment incentive for manufacturers in the history of the United States.”
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