Director's Update - March 2019

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Director Lisa Brown

March 2019

Lisa Brown is on Twitter! Follow @WAComDirector today to start hearing more about Commerce priorities, successes and challenges. 


First impressions, crucial conversations

Lisa and group in Spain 2019

By Lisa Brown, Director

It's hard to believe that a month has passed since I accepted Gov. Inslee’s appointment to lead the Department of Commerce.

I knew this was going to be an exciting opportunity for me to apply my experience in government, health science and economics to advance the agency’s mission of strengthening communities all over the state. If these first weeks are any indication, I’m in for a very rewarding journey!

(Photo: Lisa Brown, center, visits Spain's operational control center for high-speed trains run by Adif, the state-owned administrator of railway infrastructure. Their aim is making it the ideal mode of safe, efficient and sustainable transport and facilitating fair access.) 

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Strengthening Communities through Global Business Development

Spain and Washington kick off formal trade relationship

MOU signing Madrid 2019

Commerce Director Lisa Brown and Maria Pena Mateos, chief executive officer of ICEX, the public agency attached to Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, agreed to promote economic cooperation for the benefit of trade relations and boost opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Spain and Washington.

The two officials signed the first memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a formal trade and economic cooperation relationship on March 1 in Madrid.

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Commerce hosts 14 mobile tech companies in Barcelona

MWC 2019 delegation Barcelona

Executives from some of Washington’s most innovative small and medium-sized tech companies joined the Department of Commerce at MWC19 (formerly Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain.

Several of the delegation companies are exciting startups in artificial intelligence, big data and AR/VR. Many of the delegation companies are new to exporting, looking at Mobile World Congress as a place to grow and expand their businesses through international sales and partnerships.

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Strengthening Communities by Growing the Economy and Promoting Washington

Another strong year for Washington jobs

Growing Jobs

Washington posted higher job growth in 2018 than 47 states. Commerce continues to work on bringing more jobs and training opportunities to rural communities throughout the state. There is much work left to do, but it is gratifying to see how targeted programs and investments, such as the governor’s economic development strategic reserve fund, help businesses grow, innovate and create jobs.