Director Brian Quigley will explain the role of the State Department’s Office of Commercial and Business Affairs.  He will explain the programs it supports, such as the Direct Line Webinars for learning more about foreign market opportunities; Deal Teams at U.S. Embassies that help companies close on opportunities;  the Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence, recognizing U.S. firms (large and small) that are having a positive impact on their host country; Advocacy for businesses bidding on public tenders; and the Gold Key program, where Embassy officers can arrange meetings with officials, provide interpretation, do market research, find and vet potential partners/distributors, and provide other services as needed on a fee-for-service basis.