innovate arkansas

Congressman Rick Crawford will host an export roundtable for Arkansas businesses Thursday from the Delta Center for Economic Advancement at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

The forum will include a panel discussion and focus on promoting the economic benefits available to Arkansas businesses through the 11 free trade agreements the U.S. has signed with 17 countries. FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama are expected to be made official later this year.

Speakers will include Larry Walther, chairman of the board for the Export-Import Bank and former director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Graham Catlett of the Arkansas District Export Council, and Patricia Gonzalez of the Arkansas U.S. Export Assistance Center, which is co-sponsoring the event with Crawford, a first-term Republican representing the First District in east Arkansas.

"New export markets have great potential to grow businesses and put Arkansans to work," Crawford said in a press release.

The forum will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and is open to the public. For more information, contact Gonzalez at 501-324-5794.