Global Diplomats and Business Leaders Celebrate World Trade Month at Greater New York Chamber Annual International Summit

NEW YORK, NY — May 20, 2026 — International diplomats, trade representatives, and senior business executives gathered in the library of the General Society building for one of the nation’s premier forums dedicated to global commerce, trade expansion, and international investment partnerships.

Hosted by the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce the summit brought together economic leaders from around the world to strengthen commercial relationships and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration amid one of the most active periods of global trade activity in recent years.

The annual summit serves as a major platform connecting governments, exporters, investors, logistics leaders, and international chambers of commerce. Previous gatherings have resulted in memorandums of understanding and strategic partnerships with international trade agencies and businesses.

Diplomatic and trade representatives participating in the panel discussion included senior officials representing major global economies and key U.S. trading partners, including Mexico, Canada, India, Brazil, Finland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Pakistan, and Nepal. Discussions focused on trade facilitation, investment opportunities, supply-chain cooperation, emerging markets, manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology partnerships.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. exports of goods and services reached a record $3.43 trillion in 2025, underscoring the increasing importance of international trade to economic growth and job creation. The International Trade Administration estimates exports currently support nearly 9.8 million American jobs.

This international reception also highlighted the expanding role of regional and international business alliances in fostering economic growth. Prior initiatives connected to the event have included trade cooperation agreements with South Korean business institutions and investment recognition programs honoring multinational corporations contributing significantly to U.S. economic development.

A featured panel discussion, “Growing Global Trade & Investment Through Diplomacy,” examined how public-private collaboration can accelerate foreign direct investment, create jobs, and expand market access for businesses of all sizes. The discussion was moderated by chamber leadership alongside representatives from New York State’s international trade and investment network.

“Our members export billions of dollars in products and services to countries around the world,” said Mark Jaffe, President and CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. “World Trade Week NYC demonstrates how international partnerships between business leaders and economic organizations continue driving investment and opportunity throughout the United States.”

“Bringing together global business and diplomatic leadership in one room creates opportunities that lead directly to investment, partnerships, innovation, and long-term economic expansion,” said Duvi Honig, founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. “Commerce remains one of the most powerful tools for building lasting international relationships.”

The summit concluded with networking sessions designed to foster future trade initiatives, cross-border business development, and international investment collaboration across multiple sectors of the global economy

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