E.D.A. Delegation To Participate In 2016 ‘Select USA’ Summit In Washington, D.C.

ST. THOMAS — Economic Development Authority C.E.O. Wayne Biggs, Jr., announced via press release on Friday that a delegation of its economic development team will participate in the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit from June 19 – June 21, in Washington, DC.

The participation is part of the E.D.A.’s efforts to continue promoting the benefits of doing business in the U.S. Virgin Islands to attract new investments to the territory, according to the release.

The E.D.A. delegation will be among several U.S. economic development organizations, international and domestic investors, senior White House officials, and state and local government representatives that will participate in this summit.

Mr. Biggs will lead the delegation and promote the territory’s tax incentive program and business opportunities to attract new investors to the islands, according to the release. The E.D.A. is also a sponsor of the summit.

The delegation will include Margarita A. Benjamin, director of Applications for the Economic Development Commission (E.D.C.); and Andrew Clutz, E.D.A.’s marketing consultant, who will engage in several networking activities, including speaking engagements, general and panel discussions, one-on-one business meetings and a tradeshow event.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Secretary of State John Kerry and many other high-level government officials will be in attendance alongside President Barack Obama, who will deliver the summit’s keynote address, according to the release. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, this is the third SelectUSA Investment Summit to be held since the inaugural summit in 2013.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. Virgin Islands to be a part of an event with the highest profile of foreign direct investment in the United States,” Mr. Biggs said. “More than 2,000 attendees — of which 1,000 are investors who are interested in meeting with U.S. economic development agencies — are expected to attend this summit to discuss their investment projects.”

According to the release, the E.D.A. delegation will take advantage of opportunities to meet and interact with international and domestic investors and high-level corporate business executives to promote the U.S. Virgin Islands as a key destination for business development and investment.

In April, E.D.A. representatives attended the Hannover Messe 2016 Industrial Fair in Germany in partnership with SelectUSA, President Obama and Secretary Pritzker.

According to SelectUSA, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is part of a U.S. government-wide initiative to promote direct investment in the United States, and is intended to connect state, territories and local economic development organizations.

Select USA is a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration that leads the federal government efforts to promote the United States as the premier global investment destination, and facilitates investment in the United States. The program provides information assistance to the global investment community, serves as an ombudsman for investors, and advocates for U.S. cities, states, and regions competing for global investment.