Chamber Attends Reception for US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield

The Chamber attended a reception honoring Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations and the Los Angeles Consular Corps, hosted by Mayor Karen Bass. Hundreds of guests visited the reception at the Getty House, including members of our Diplomatic & Commercial Officers Group. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield spoke about the five major issues we are currently facing: food security, water insecurity, climate change, protracted conflicts, and attacks on human rights. She also commended Mayor Bass for making Los Angeles the first city in the world to report data on progress toward achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals through Open Source.

Building Bridges to Global Markets

The Chamber attended the Building Bridges to Global Markets event and was presented with the President's "E Star" award by Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and the Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. Ken Wengrod, Vice President of the Chamber's Global Trade and Foreign Investment department, accepted the award and moderated an access to capital panel discussion. The event was held at the Beehive — the nation's first campus for Opportunity Zone Businesses in South Central L.A. — to help small- and medium-sized businesses learn how to expand their business globally.

Empowering Women-Owned Business for Global Expansion

The Chamber attended the "Empowering Women-Owned Business for Global Expansion" luncheon and networking event hosted by Terri Batch, Director of the Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) for the U.S. Commercial Service. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Business and Economic Development & International Affairs. The event shared information on how to access to capital, digital transformation, and supply chain management.

Chamber Meets Talamus Health

The Chamber met with Dr. Murisiku Raifu of Talamus Health, a hybrid cloud-based software platform delivering health care services in emerging markets in Africa. The meeting explored how Talamus Health's innovative technology could be leveraged in the U.S. as well as how to amplify export promotion from Africa to the U.S.

Chamber Discusses Cross-border Trade with Poland Consulate

The Chamber met with Anna Debecka, the head of the Foreign Trade Office for the Polish Trade and Investment Agency as well as Mateusz Gmura, the Deputy Consul General of the Consulate of the Republic of Poland, Los Angeles. They discussed becoming active members of the Chamber, how to foster increased cross-border trade between the U.S. and Poland, and the upcoming Trade Minister of Poland's visit to Los Angeles in July.

Chamber Welcomes Food Blogger Tinger Hseih

The Chamber hosted Tinger Hseih of Dash of Ting, an international food blogger and author of a soon-to-be-released National Geographic book. The Chamber continues our efforts to explore innovative methods for expanding and promoting international trade.

Farewell Gathering for The Consul General of Belgium

The Chamber attended a farewell gathering for the outgoing Consul General of Belgium, Ambassador Gunther Sleeuwagen. The soiree, hosted at the Belgium residence, included representatives from other consulates, including Luxembourg, the U.S. State Department, the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, and other chambers of commerce representing foreign expats in addition to local business leaders.

U.S. Department of Commerce Hosts IPEF Meeting

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo hosted an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) virtual ministerial meeting which was attended by representatives from Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Commerce Department announced the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved $300 million in financing for sustainable infrastructure projects, including in eligible IPEF member countries who become part of the IPEF clean economy agreement currently being negotiated.