WASHINGTON, D.C. – World Trade Center Kansas City has been named the newest member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s Partners Program, a public diplomacy initiative designed to expand knowledge of OPIC’s role as the U.S. Government’s development finance institution.

World Trade Center Kansas City, which provides services such as global trade data mining, communication training and global market briefings to area companies looking to access international markets, served as co-sponsor of OPIC’s Expanding Horizons seminar in Kansas City last November, which educated more than 50 SME owners about how OPIC products can help them take advantage of lucrative investment opportunities in emerging markets.

Through the Partners Program, OPIC works with selected trade, business and foreign policy organizations nationwide to increase public knowledge of OPIC’s work. By utilizing the resources of geographically-diverse organizations with different memberships, information about OPIC is disseminated to a larger audience.

“OPIC is extremely pleased to add World Trade Center Kansas City to our Partners Program,” said OPIC Director of Outreach Dr. Lawrence Spinelli. “OPIC and the World Trade Center share the same goal – helping Kansas City-area businesses grow and create jobs. As a vital informational resource for local companies looking to expand, the World Trade Center will serve as an ideal point of contact for businesses which could benefit from OPIC’s products and services. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.”

“As do we,” echoed Jim Heeter, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “Our members found the November seminar with OPIC to be highly beneficial. We look forward to expanding the relationship with OPIC and expanding the benefits our World Trade Center offers to businesses in the Kansas City region.”

World Trade Center Kansas City is a convenient resource for local companies needing information regarding the 96 percent of world consumers who live outside U.S. borders and for foreign companies seeking information about Kansas City. It is a partnership between the Greater Kansas City Chamber, KC SmartPort and the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Since its establishment in 1971, OPIC has committed more than $454 million in financing and political risk insurance to projects sponsored by companies in Missouri and Kansas, supporting nearly 5000 U.S. jobs and another $1.4 billion in U.S. exports. For example, OPIC provided nearly $50 million in political risk insurance to Anheuser Busch International Holdings in order to expand its business in Brazil, producing canned beverages to sell in Sao Paulo and other cities.

OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. It mobilizes private capital to help solve critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy. Because OPIC works with the U.S. private sector, it helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.

Established as an agency of the U.S. Government in 1971, OPIC operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to American taxpayers. OPIC services are available for new and expanding business enterprises in more than 150 countries worldwide. To date, OPIC has supported more than $200 billion of investment in over 4,000 projects, generated an estimated $75 billion in U.S. exports and supported more than 277,000 American jobs.

World Trade Center Kansas City connects the bi-state Kansas City region to the people, data, companies, and government agencies that make up the fabric of global commerce. WTCs symbolize the international connectedness and competitiveness of a region and, in addition to the business services offered at each Center, they connect their business community to a network of over 330 WTCs in 100 countries.

Providing services such as global trade data mining, inter-cultural communication training, global market briefings, trade missions and export documentation, World Trade Center Kansas City can help your business start or expand upon your international operations.