President Obama Makes Pitch To Foreign Business Owners

04:32

November 01, 2013

President Barack Obama speaks at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. The president encouraged international businesses and investors to bring new investment and jobs to the U.S. (Charles Dharapak/AP)

President Barack Obama spoke yesterday at a gathering of foreign business leaders. The initiative called Select USA is a program that brings together the U.S. State Department and the Commerce Department to help foreign companies set up businesses in the U.S.

President Obama told business leaders, "When you bet on America, that bet pays off." But will they be deterred by the political dysfunction in Washington?

Guest

Marilyn Geewax, senior business editor for NPR. She tweets @geewaxnpr.

This segment aired on November 1, 2013.