London, Paris, New York and Phoenix? It’s not as far-fetched as you may think.

Phoenix is a growing international city, in a state that’s made a name for itself through international trade. With more than $18 billion in overall exports worldwide in 2012 (according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration), Arizona has become a major player in hemispheric trade. Nearly half of Arizonan exports head to Mexico and Canada (totaling $8.5 billion), and Arizona ranked 17^th among U.S. states for exports to North America in 2012. When looking exclusively at computer and electronic products – Arizona’s biggest export to North America totaling $1.6 billion in 2012 – Arizona jumps from 17^th to fifth among U.S. states.

It’s because of Arizona’s standing that the Global Interdependence Center (GIC) selected Phoenix as the location for the Southwest Economic Summit. The Summit will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Phoenix Convention Center and will include discussions of international trade and interdependence, international supply chains, and international finance. It will feature outstanding speakers, including the following policymakers:

Matt Salmon
Chairman, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Matt Salmon was elected to the United States Congress on November 6, 2012 to represent the people of Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. Matt was appointed by his peers to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. He also serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Manuel Sánchez
Vice Governor of the Banco de Mexico
Manuel Sánchez González is a member of the Governing Board and vice governor at the Bank of Mexico, Mexico’s central bank. Prior to this appointment, he was director of investment at Valanza México, the private equity unit of BBVA. He joined Bancomer Financial Group, now BBVA Bancomer Financial Group, in 1993 as director of financial analysis and investor relations. During 1995-97, he was director of planning and finance at the group’s Service Banking Division. Afterwards and until 2004, he was the group’s chief economist.

Congressman Salmon and Vice Govern Sanchez are two of 16 speakers who will attend the Summit. Learn about the other excellent speakers or register for the Summit at http://bit.ly/SWES2014.