Northern California World Trade Center President and CEO Renée Taylor joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. and eleven other CEOs and business leaders last month to discuss how to make the Sacramento region more competitive globally.

The group discussed opportunities to capitalize on increased international market access and to strengthen sectors that the region is recognized for including agriculture, technology, health and manufacturing.

"We must address skills training and workforce development to remain globally competitive,” Secretary Pritzker told the group, emphasizing the value of trade to businesses in the Sacramento area and across the country.

“Giving companies across Northern California better access to the global marketplace will lead to higher sales, more jobs and an improved regional economy that can be sustained for years to come,” Taylor added.

The roundtable event was held at the joint facilities of California Pavement Maintenance Company and NorCalWTC member company Rayner Equipment Systems which designs and manufactures asphalt pavement machines for business owners and governments around the world.

Learn more about the NorCalWTC’s effort to grow the region’s exports and strengthen the economy at www.norcalwtc.org/exportplan/.