On May 8-12, AmChams in Europe (ACE) met for an annual U.S. conference in Washington D.C. and Houston, Texas to highlight the significance of transatlantic relations and obtain important insights into the U.S. economic and political landscape.

Executive Directors from 25 AmChams from across Europe and Eurasia had the opportunity to visit U.S. government institutions and agencies as well as some of the largest U.S. companies.

The conference kicked off with presentations by the leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, including President Suzanne Clark, Chief Economist Curtis Dubay, Vice President for Climate and Energy Dan Bayers and Senior Vice President of International Policy John Murphy.

The ACE team paid a visit to the U.S. Department of Commerce to meet Marisa Lago, Undersecretary of Commerce, and David De Falco, Deputy Assistant Secretary. The discussions centered around methods for strengthening the relationship between the business and government sectors. They additionally had the opportunity to meet with the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM). They also met with Jose Fernandez, Undersecretary of State at the U.S. Department of State to discuss the solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukraine reconstruction mission, immigration policies, energy issues, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TCC). The delegation’s first part of the trip to concluded with a productive meeting at APCO Worldwide.

The delegation then headed to Houston, Texas where the first destination was the Greater Houston Partnership, an innovative organization promoting regional economic development. Jeffrey Blair, Senior Director of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) emphasized the significance of connectivity of Houston. With its substantial aviation, road, rail, and broadband infrastructure, the city serves as a center for several sectors and provides numerous opportunities for businesses and individuals. Houston is the 4th largest city and the fastest growing major metro area in the U.S., seeing its largest population increase in the past six years.

The ACE team met with William Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston. They also had a unique opportunity to meet Reid Wiseman, an astronaut who will take part in the Artemis Moon mission in 2025. The ACE team continued their exploration of Houston by visiting Collins Aerospace, Honeywell and ExxonMobil global headquarters to gain insights from leading innovators.

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