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By all accounts, the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit hosted by President Barack Obama on March 23-24 was a tremendous success for the United States and the entrepreneurs who invest in our communities.

Who was there?

In March 2015, we welcomed participants from more than 70 international markets, including companies and business associations as well as economic development representatives from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. U.S. ambassadors led recruitment, and many personally led high-quality delegations. In an unprecedented show of support for investment attraction, nearly 50 Ambassadors participated on-site.

Who spoke?

Participants got the chance to hear from 97 top executives and senior federal and state officials in plenary and breakout sessions featuring President Obama, six Cabinet Secretaries, and three Governors. Global CEOs and other business leaders represented major international firms such as Berkshire Hathaway, BMW, Carlyle Group, Google, Michelin, Nestlé, Nissan, Samsung, Sony, Unilever, and Walmart, as well as entrepreneurs who have successfully grown their startups and SMEs in the United States.

What were the hot topics?

Discussion ranged from the overall advantages of investing in the United States to expert guidance on investor visas, infrastructure investing, startup resources, workforce development, and more. Hundreds of investors and EDOs also participated in the brand new SelectUSA Academy, an intensive pre-Summit orientation on the fundamentals of investing and promoting investment in the United States.

And how about the networking?

During this comprehensive two-day event, participants used the online matchmaking system to coordinate more than 1,700 business meetings; many more meetings were facilitated by the U.S. Commercial Service and EDOs. The 72,000-sq ft Exhibit Hall was filled with economic developers, service providers, and government officials from the federal, state and local levels, showcasing investment opportunities from every corner of the United States.

What’s next?

The feedback we received from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and SelectUSA looks forward to working with many investor and EDO clients in the months ahead. SelectUSA holds many events throughout the year in the United States and abroad. To learn more and hear our latest news, sign up for our email list and follow @SelectUSA on Twitter.