Sandra Watson Appointed New Co-Chair of U.S. Investment Advisory Council Workforce Subcommittee

The United States Investment Advisory Council is responsible for advising the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on U.S. government policies and programs that affect foreign direct investment (FDI); identifying and recommending programs and policies to help the United States attract and retain FDI; and recommending ways to support the United States to remain the world’s premier destination for FDI.

The IAC, which was first chartered in April 2016, serves as the principal advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on the promotion and retention of FDI to the United States. Since inception, the IAC has put forth actionable initiatives to attract and retain FDI.

“I am honored to be appointed Co-Chair of the IAC Workforce Subcommittee alongside Mike Graff,” Watson said. “The Committee will continue to advance the United States’ competitiveness on a global scale, identifying opportunities to bolster and grow FDI opportunities. I look forward to continuing to work with the Subcommittee on key actions to further the United States as a global leader for foreign direct investment.”

In August 2022, Secretary Raimondo appointed Watson to the IAC alongside 33 members including business and economic leaders representing various industries, companies, associations, regional, state and local economic development organizations, and other organizations.

As a workforce subcommittee member, Watson and the IAC subcommittee led a recommendation to the IAC to further develop the semiconductor workforce, building on work previously conducted with industry leaders and partners for the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER). The recommendation will be presented at an upcoming IAC meeting at the end of October.

Watson currently serves as the President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, the state’s leading economic development organization with a three-pronged mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy through attraction, expansion and creation. During her tenure, she and her teams have successfully worked with over 1,180 companies that have committed to creating more than 267,500 quality jobs and investing more than $113 billion in capital in the state.