U.S. APEC Host Year Minority Small Business and Entrepreneurs Roundtable in Detroit

APEC Detroit Minority-Owned Small Business Roundtable: Key Insights & Takeaways

1. Setting the Stage

Host: Marion Reich (Global Ties Detroit)
Global Ties Detroit—a private-sector, non-profit partner to the State Department—connects emerging international leaders with Detroit’s business ecosystem, fostering citizen diplomacy and global opportunity.

2. APEC’s Vision & U.S. Priorities

Speakers:

Matt Murray (U.S. Senior Official for APEC, State Dept.)
Dilawar Syed (Special Rep. for Commercial and Business Affairs, State Dept.)
Pamela Phan (Deputy Asst. Secretary for Asia, US Dept. of Commerce)

Key Points:

APEC: 21 Pacific Rim economies, half the world’s trade; advancing trade, innovation, sustainable and inclusive growth.
U.S. Host Year: Five APEC stops (Honolulu, Palm Springs, Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco). U.S. goals: ensure small/medium businesses and women-owned businesses are central to economic inclusion, supply chains, innovation.
New Focus: Economic Inclusion (women, minority, veteran- and immigrant-owned businesses), climate action, digital trade, supply chain resilience.
Your Voice Matters: Officials urge direct community engagement—programs must lift local communities for global diplomacy to have value.

3. Federal & State Resources (Awareness Gap)

Massive new federal investments (CHIPS and Science Act, IRA, infrastructure bills) aim to benefit businesses—but local leaders admit most entrepreneurs don’t know these resources exist.
Officials urge increasing “outbound” communication (not waiting for businesses to find government) and see community/media partners as vital amplifiers.
Michigan’s export ecosystem is strong, with diverse support (Commerce, SBA, Export Assistance Centers, MEDC, minority business orgs).

4. Inclusion, Investment, Talent & Global Trade

Minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses are vital but face barriers to investment, market access, and business support.
Venture capital, technical skills, and incubation are needed, especially as Detroit and Michigan work to reverse population decline/grow the middle class.
Diaspora communities (Arab, Asian, more) are entrepreneurial assets—call for more direct support in attracting international startups and relocating talent to Detroit.

5. Policy Programs and Initiatives

Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI):
Reaching diverse underserved businesses for export opportunities, with intentional, formal outreach and events.
Empower Asia:
Growing US women-owned exports to Asia, leveraging digital tools & market research to match resources.
SelectUSA Summit:
Showcasing regions to foreign investors—yet too few local organizations or entrepreneurs know about it.
Webinar Series (June–Nov):
Strategies for U.S. businesses to access Asian markets.

6. Community Concerns & “Pain Points”

Childcare & Parental Leave:
Women business owners—especially “solopreneurs” & microbusinesses—face interconnected barriers (affordability, access, systemic exclusion).
“Invest in childcare like Denmark does.”
Immigration & Talent:
Modern manufacturing and tech growth depend on skilled immigration; H-1B quota issues and onboarding challenges persist.
Logistics & Supply Chain:
Shipping container costs and availability critical for global SMEs; recent spikes forced painful adjustments.
Banking & Newcomers:
Entrepreneurs arriving from abroad face barriers: can’t open bank accounts or access basic credit without SSN/credit history.

7. The Call to Action

Government must be more present, accessible, and representative (“inbound” won’t work—a new “outbound” model is required).
Community, business, and media leaders must act as trusted nodes amplifying info—“Every one of you here is a node. Share it!”
Building a connected info “web” is essential: LinkedIn, networks, word-of-mouth, and regular, repetitive outreach.
Government and business alike must recruit new talent from diverse backgrounds and inspire the next generation to consider public service roles.

8. Lasting Impact

Personal stories from women, immigrant, and minority entrepreneurs—about struggling alone, missing out on resources, fighting through the pandemic—highlight the urgency for more accessible, inclusive, and responsive support systems.
Officials give direct contact access, encourage ongoing communication, and stress the need for feedback to drive future program and policy improvements.
For Detroit (and Michigan), being “climate resilient,” globally minded, and demographically diverse offers a unique opportunity—if resources and info are delivered to every door.

#APEC #Detroit #minoritownedbusiness #inclusion #smallbusiness #womenentrepreneur #immigration #SUPPORTLOCAL #trade #supplychain #investdetroit #MEDC