Commerce Department to Host National Summit on Competitiveness

Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will host a national meeting of private and public sector officials that will focus on promoting innovation and economic development across the United States. The "National Summit on American Competitiveness" will be held Sept. 18, 2007, in Washington, D.C., at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

The summit will convene the nation's premier leaders of business, government, academia and the research community to address the core components and lessons of the role of the private sector; education and workforce issues; energy independence; and partnerships in innovation. The agenda includes panel; discussions on "The Competitive Challenge for America in the 21st Century," "Education & Workforce: Skillsets for the 21st Century," "Innovation Partnerships: Best Practices," and "Energy: The Technology Path Forward," as well as a general townhall discussion.

CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Marburger, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James Connaughton will join Gutierrez as moderators.

To view a full listing of the speakers and register for the event, go to www.americancompetitiveness.com.