Energy Workforce & Technology Council hosted a delegation of U.S. Ambassadors from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, who were in Houston last week to meet with energy services and technology sector leaders. Ambassadors leading the delegation were Marc R. Stanley (AR), Bernadette Meehan (CH), and Heide Fulton (UY,) who began their visit in Washington D.C. for the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit.
Working with diplomats in South America’s Southern Cone is important to building international relationships and helping foster collaboration between U.S. companies and those working in the industry throughout the Western Hemisphere. Energy Workforce has a deep relationship with U.S. officials serving abroad; the State Department Houston Energy Course is celebrating its 30th year, having trained more than 900 U.S. government officials over the years.
Through the International Programs Committee, Energy Workforce regularly hosts Ambassadors and other senior U.S. government officials on facility tours and training sessions. The purpose of last week’s visit to Houston by the Ambassadors was to augment the visibility of market opportunities in the Southern Cone to U.S. industry and engage with key stakeholders in the private sector, academia and local government.
The delegation toured Member Companies Solar Turbines, a Caterpillar Company, and Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation. During these tours, the delegation saw first-hand how Energy Workforce Members manufacture components for the energy value chain, including natural gas and hydrogen applications. Leaders from the sector discussed the value of natural gas as a highly reliable yet lower-emission fuel source, critical to addressing themes within the energy trilemma.
Additionally, the delegation visited Rice University to discuss export opportunities in the Southern Cone with the U.S. Commercial Service. During the discussion, Senior Commercial Officers from the Southern Cone region reviewed the unique aspects of each market and what services their respective offices can offer U.S. businesses. The international chapters of Energy Workforce support these in-country engagements with the Departments of Commerce and State as well as throughout the Middle East and Latin America.
Hosting tours and meetings with sector leadership allows U.S. government officials to see the workforce behind the technology innovation. It can spur new opportunities to partner with our industry and foster important dialogue needs for the sector.
If your company is interested in hosting future delegations, contact Deidre Kohlrus to join the International Programs Committee. If you want to engage in an international chapter, contact Maria Suarez-Simmons.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, Senior Director Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
