Thank you, Dale, for that introduction, and for your outstanding work at the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

It’s wonderful to be here with all of you − in person − to celebrate your contributions to America’s export growth.

Congratulations to the 2022 winners! The “E” and “E Star” Awards are the highest honors U.S. exporters and export service providers can receive from the U.S. government.

This honor is a testament to your hard work exporting your products and services to the global market, and your remarkable resilience during the pandemic.

Today’s E Awards winners contributed to nearly a billion and a half dollars of exports in goods and services from 2018 through 2021.

Exporting world-class American products overseas isn’t just essential for our domestic economy, it’s also vital for our global economic competitiveness.

95% of consumers are based abroad, and we all know how severely the pandemic disrupted international trade and global supply chains.

Strengthening our domestic supply chains and increasing our engagement with international markets are critical to our economic recovery.

That’s why we’re doing everything we can at the Commerce Department to promote American businesses and products globally.

I want to highlight a few of the services exporters we are recognizing here today. 

Academica International Studies developed the innovative online study Dual Diploma program for foreign high-school students to obtain a U.S. accredited high school diploma alongside their foreign high school diploma. 

More good news in education services comes from Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada. Its innovative marketing and development of new programs attract international students who contribute more than $1 million each year in revenue to the school.

Other services exporters that we honor here today focus on communication. 

Rapport International facilitates trade through its use of translation and language services.

Technologent is a woman-owned company that exports data center services and cloud computing technologies.

We're also recognizing manufacturers who are making the world a cleaner place for the next generation. 

Montachem, a distributor of plastic resins and polymers, partnered with companies that manufacture resins made from sugar cane bagasse [ba-GAS] and hemp­ based composites, helping to reduce the carbon footprint. The company also has a program in Haiti to clean up plastics from streets and beaches and recycle them into desks for students.

Another E-Award winner that knows a thing or two about recycling is MGK International, which exports scrap metals and polymers. 

Those are just a few examples of the American companies whose leadership is securing a better future for us and our friends around the world.

Thank you everyone for your commitment to export growth, and for continuing to strengthen our economy. We need exporters now more than ever.

On behalf of President Biden, the Commerce Department, and the entire Administration, congratulations to all the recipients of the President’s “E” and E”-Star” Awards.

Please give them a big round of applause.