SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An Expanding Horizons workshop in San Jose for small businesses organized by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, drew over 170 small business owners from 11 states today, educating participants about how OPIC products can help them take advantage of lucrative investment opportunities in emerging markets.
OPIC speakers outlined the innovative financial tools – among them financing and political risk insurance – that the agency has used for 40 years to help U.S. businesses successfully invest in emerging markets. Other speakers included senior government representatives from the U.S. Trade Development Agency, the Minority Business Development Agency, the Small Business Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
OPIC Director of Outreach and Public Affairs Dr. Larry Spinelli noted that “the Expanding Horizons conference equips small businesses with the information and resources they need to compete in the global marketplace. By making the most of the many investment opportunities in emerging markets, they are helping to grow their businesses and to bring their entrepreneurial spirit and innovative skills to where they are most needed.”
Local organizations supporting the conference included the Greater San Jose Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, Monterey Bay International Trade Association, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara County, CITD, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and California Asia Business Council.
Today’s event is the latest in a highly successful series that has educated more than 2,600 small and medium-sized business owners across the United States about OPIC products and services. Since 2006, OPIC has held Expanding Horizons events in Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, New York City, Orange (CA), Philadelphia, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Raleigh.
About OPIC
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. Visit www.opic.gov for more information.
