New Global Business and Investment Committee Launches Consuls General Speaker Series; Announces APEC Emphasis

The Bay Area Council’s new Global Business and Investment Committee (GBIC) is coming out the gate firing on all cyclinders, this week launching a regular speakers series featuring Bay Area-based consuls general representing countries from around the world and announcing an effort to guide our engagement in the APEC 2023 heads of state summit to be hosted by San Francisco in November. The Council played an important role in securing the prestigious APEC Summit, which will include President Biden, China President Xi Jinping and leaders of 21 other Asia Pacific region economies.

The bi-monthly Business Meets speaker series opened on Wednesday (Jan. 25) with Ukraine Consul General Dmytro Kusheruk and Ukraine Economic Counsellor Oleksii Khorosh. Council members heard from Kusheruk and Khorosh on political and military development in the war with Russia and were briefed on Ukraine’s plans for reconstruction and the business opportunities that will offer. The scale of rebuilding that will be required was described as the largest in Europe since the end of World War II and will involve both the long-term redevelopment of structures and infrastructure as well as a range of more immediate near-term needs. European companies are already on the ground and Ukraine welcomes deeper engagement with U.S. companies.

The GBIC is also working to establish an APEC emphasis that will help lead the Council’s engagement in the summit. The Council will be working closely with federal, state and local officials in planning for the APEC Summit, and a meeting is scheduled for next week (Feb. 1) with advisors to San Francisco Mayor London Breed on early planning. Council members are invited to register to attend the meeting.

To learn more about and engage with the Council’s Global Business and Investment Committee, please contact Bay Area Council Economic Institute Senior Director Sean Randolph.