World Trade Center Utah Named to OPIC's Partners Program

July 10, 2013

(OPIC) WASHINGTON, D.C. – World Trade Center Utah was named as the newest member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s Partners Program, a public diplomacy initiative designed to expand knowledge of OPIC’s role as the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. The designation was announced in Salt Lake City at OPIC’s Expanding Horizons seminar for Utah’s small businesses which was cosponsored by the WTCUtah.

Through the Partners Program, OPIC works with selected trade, business and foreign policy organizations nationwide to increase public knowledge of OPIC’s work. By utilizing the resources of geographically-diverse organizations with different memberships, information about OPIC is disseminated to a larger audience. WTCUtah will join the eighteen other national and regional organizations which are members of the program.

“Today’s announcement formally recognizes the long relationship that has existed between OPIC and the World Trade Center Utah,” said OPIC’s Director of Outreach and Public Affairs Dr. Lawrence Spinelli. “They have served as an important link with the Utah business community in helping to share information about OPIC’s programs and how OPIC can help America’s businesses compete in the global marketplace. The World Trade Center Utah will be a great addition to our Partners Program and I look forward to building on our strong relationship in the future.”

“We commend OPIC’s long standing commitment to success of U.S. businesses overseas and look forward to our strengthened partnership,” said Elizabeth Goryunova, Executive VP & COO, World Trade Center Utah. “No matter what size business you run, there are international opportunities that can catalyze your revenue stream and add jobs. Through partnership with OPIC, WTCUtah will be able to increase awareness of Utah companies about those opportunities, private sector financing, insurance and support, while emerging markets all over the world will be able to benefit from the extensive expertise and solutions offered by Utah companies.”

Since its establishment in 1971, OPIC has committed more than $62 million in financing and political risk insurance to projects sponsored by companies in Utah, supporting over 200 U.S. jobs and another $57 million in U.S. exports.

OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. It mobilizes private capital to help solve critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy. Because OPIC works with the U.S. private sector, it helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.

Established as an agency of the U.S. Government in 1971, OPIC operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to American taxpayers. OPIC services are available for new and expanding business enterprises in more than 150 countries worldwide. To date, OPIC has supported more than $200 billion of investment in over 4,000 projects, generated an estimated $75 billion in U.S. exports and supported more than 277,000 American jobs.

The mission of WTCUtah is to guide Utah companies into profitable global markets. WTC Utah builds Utah’s international community by offering signature services: Assessment of a company’s current global position or international strategy, Education in the form of seminars and workshops to help develop global strategy, and Connections through the World Trade Center network and co-hosted local events to help in executing global strategy. In addition, WTCUtah offers customized market intelligence reports and access to the network of over 330 World Trade Centers around the globe that facilitates international trade and investment.

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