MBDA Reflects on Hannover Messe 2016

The Minority Business Development Agency's (MBDA) participation in Hannover Messe 2016 has been an extraordinary experience. With the U.S. participating as the partner country, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Select USA undertook the enormous challenge of ensuring that American businesses and opportunities were front and center for anyone interested in doing business in America. With an original goal of 200 businesses recruited to exhibit, we were extremely proud to learn that the final number was more than 400, including the businesses and stakeholders that MBDA recruited.

With the U.S. serving as the partner country, the event was already an exciting challenge, but President Obama's participation created additional exhilaration. Hannover Messe has proven to be a significant opportunity for MBDA, our delegation, and staff. Practically every industry was represented in one way or another. MBDA was showcased in the U.S. Investment Pavilion among several other federal and state government representatives offering trade and investment opportunities.

MBDA's delegation featured 15 businesses and stakeholders, and MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo was also able to make key introductions to dignitaries like Joset Wright-Lacy, President of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Gary Davis President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

MBDA hosted a policy roundtable with members of several German political and educational agencies to discuss how Germany can develop policies and programs to assist their minority entrepreneurs. The dialogue between MBDA and our German counterparts was profoundly informative not only for the Germans, but also for MBDA and our delegates.

NCAIED President Gary Davis provided a galvanizing presentation on doing business with Indian Country. His discussion on the vast amount of untapped potential and opportunities available was truly inspiring and informative. As president he expressed his desires and organizational goals and objectives of reshaping and redrafting the narrative of Indians in business. Mr. Davis is passionate about increasing and expanding more international opportunities, private sector deals and importing into Indian country and Hannover Messe provided the international platform that will prove to be a valuable asset for achieving these aspirations.

Hannover Messe was an excellent event for MBDA to expose our stakeholders, partner agencies, and minority firms to worldwide opportunities. They established connections in a wide range of industries and markets, which are expected to yield positive results.