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    Fernando Garcia

    Executive Vice President of International Trade and Investment
    Arizona Commerce Authority, United States

    Fernando Garcia serves as the Executive Vice President of International Trade and Investment at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), where he leads the State of Arizona’s global strategy for trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and early-stage ventures. In this role, Mr. Garcia directs ACA’s network of international trade offices located in Mexico City, Chihuahua, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Europe (Frankfurt), Israel, and Romania, amplifying Arizona’s value proposition worldwide.

    Under his leadership, ACA advances a three-pronged mission—Attract, Expand, Create:

    Attract: Positioning Arizona as a premier destination for global companies expanding into the U.S. market.

    Expand: Helping existing firms strengthen and grow in Arizona while extending their international reach.

    Create: Supporting entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures in targeted innovation-driven industries.

    Mr. Garcia has been instrumental in Arizona’s international engagement strategy, forging global partnerships and strengthening cross-border trade and investment. In July 2025, he was appointed by Arizona Commerce Authority President & CEO Sandra Watson to serve as the delegate to the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC), where he co-leads the Economic Development Committee. In this role, he works alongside binational partners to grow trade, enhance cross-border infrastructure, and promote innovation across the Arizona-Sonora Megaregion.

    Prior to joining the ACA in 2021, Mr. Garcia began his career in economic development with the City of Casa Grande, where he focused on business attraction. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Master of Public Administration program, which introduced him to the economic development field.

    Mr. Garcia has been highly engaged with the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), serving on its Board of Directors and currently on its Advisory Board.

    In addition to his professional role, Mr. Garcia is a Captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, serving with a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron. He recently completed Expeditionary Warfare School as part of his professional military education and continues to lead Marines in aviation supply operations during annual training at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

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