From June 26-29, Ambassador Victoria Kennedy led a record-setting 40-member Austrian delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2022 National Harbor, Maryland. Supported by the Embassy’s Commercial Service, the delegates advanced their U.S. expansion plans through cabinet-level engagements focused on the vast U.S. government infrastructure investments underway and the priority of workforce development. They attended industry and tactical business seminars, meet with U.S. states, and participated in tech startup workshops.
Ambassador Kennedy introduced the Austrian delegation to the Secretary of Commerce Raimondo, Secretary of Labor Walsh, and International Trade Under Secretary Lago highlighting the positive impact of Austrian investment in the United States and Austria’s dual education expertise that will help advance the newly signed U.S.-Austria Apprenticeship cooperation agreement.
In other highlights, Austrian Ambassador Martin Weiss hosted the delegates for an official reception, and the U.S. and Austrian Ambassadors with WKO Vice President Amelie Groß visited exhibitions of Austrian tech start-ups and U.S. State Economic Development representatives.
Elevating the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on diversity at the Summit, Ambassador Kennedy underscored that 20 percent of her Austrian delegation consisted of female executives and Secretary of Commerce Raimondo launched the second edition of Select Global Women-in-Tech. Six Austrian female tech startup executives joining this Secretarial initiative joining a cohort of 140 global female startup executives selected for a six-month mentoring network that supports international women entrepreneurs in their U.S. expansion journey.
