Global infrastructure conference opens in Washington

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today hosts the Global Infrastructure Conference (GIC) at the US Department of State. This is the second in the global business conference series the State Department has launched to support President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s commitment to strengthen the American economy. The one-day high-level forum will connect executives from nearly 90 US companies with senior government officials from Colombia, India, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates to identify new opportunities and markets for US companies, the US State Department said. Many countries have ambitious infrastructure development plans that will require significant investment in the coming decades. US companies are highly competitive in this area because they can provide specialized skills, advanced technology, and responsible corporate practices. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides will also be in attendance along with representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Treasury, as well as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the United States Trade and Development Agency, the State Department added.