The International Trade Center Refines its Business Model to Better Support the National Export Initiative

The International Trade Center (ITC) at the Ronald Reagan Building has announced the implementation of a refined business model to better support the U.S. National Export Strategy. Included in the new business model: A more accurate name for the ITC's programming arm--formerly known as the "International Gateway."

WASHINGTON, July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -Just months after President Obama announced plans for expanded U.S. export and trade initiatives, the International Trade Center (ITC) has unveiled plans for an updated, more dynamic business model. The first round of changes has been the re-branding and re-naming of the Office for Trade Promotion (OTP), formerly known as "The International Gateway."

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"We felt this name did not clearly convey our core purpose or the extent of our support services," says Andrew Gelfuso, director of the Office for Trade Promotion. "As a result, we changed our name to the Office for Trade Promotion or 'OTP.'"

As the programming arm of the International Trade Center, the OTP is responsible for promoting a rich mix of signature events, building relationships with national and international trade organizations and--most notably--providing small and medium-sized businesses access to the resources they need to thrive in today's complex trade environment.

"I'm proud of the OTP's commitment to U.S. businesses," says Jeremy Downs, director of the U.S. General Services Administration's International Trade Center. "Thanks to our efforts, small and medium-sized enterprises have the knowledge and confidence they need to step beyond U.S. borders and operate successfully overseas."

The newly renamed Office for Trade Promotion collaborates with an extended network of public and private-sector organizations to produce more than 85 trade events a year. These events, which range from multi-day conferences, trade shows, and economic summits to networking functions and round-table discussions, directly support U.S. businesses as well as trade and export efforts.

The International Trade Center supports President Obama's goal to double U.S. exports and create 2 million new jobs.

"President Obama's National Export Initiative underscores that the mission of the ITC is as relevant today as when it first opened its doors in 1998," says John P. Drew, president and CEO of Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA), the company that operates the International Trade Center (ITC) program for the U.S. General Services Administration. "For over a decade the ITC, supported by the results-driven initiatives of our staff, has been creating competitive advantages for the businesses President Obama refers to as 'the backbone of America's economy.'"

Additional announcements from the ITC regarding new or refined business strategies are coming soon.

To learn more about:

The National Export Initiative (NEI), visit http://www.export.gov/nei/index.asp.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), visit http://www.gsa.gov.

About the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC), which is owned and operated by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), is the District of Columbia's largest building and the nation's second-largest government building after the Pentagon. Since opening its doors in 1998, the RRB/ITC's dramatic interior of stone, steel and glass has been welcoming millions of visitors each year.

The International Trade Center (ITC) occupies 500,000 square feet of the Ronald Reagan Building's total 3.1 million square feet. It consolidates, under private management, the most comprehensive network of trade resources in a single facility and features a premier conference and event center, Class-A office space, in-house catering, 21 eating establishments, retail outlets, and DC's largest underground parking garage.

SOURCE Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center