Novozymes CEO joins Barack Obama for roundtable discussion

21 May '14

2 min read

Novozymes President and CEO Peder Holk Nielsen joined U.S. President Barack Obama and other international business leaders at the White House on 20th May, 2014, for a roundtable discussion on investing in the United States.

President Obama and the business leaders discussed the opportunities for locating, growing and hiring in the U.S. and key factors that would encourage further investment. Peder Holk Nielsen focused his comments on the importance of policy stability and education.

“We know generating foreign investment in the U.S. is a priority for President Obama. It’s also a priority for Novozymes,” said Peder Holk Nielsen. “The U.S. is one of our most important markets and – from putting steel in the ground to finding solutions in the lab – we’ve committed more than $500 million to growing it. Long-term stable policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard coupled with skilled workers to innovate the next generation of our technology are critical to continue our momentum. We’re honored to work with the President to leverage these strengths for continued economic growth in America.”

The meeting was part of the Administration’s efforts to highlight the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program, which promotes the U.S. as a premiere location for business and investment. Additional Administration participants included Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients. During the meeting, the President announced the second SelectUSA Summit to be held in the Spring of 2015 in Washington, D.C.

In April, Novozymes announced the establishment of a new U.S.-based research and development center dedicated to its BioAgriculture business. The center will be located near the Research Triangle Park in Cary, North Carolina where the company will invest $36 million over the next three years and create 100 new research and development jobs.

In May 2012, Novozymes opened a $200 million advanced manufacturing facility in Blair, Nebraska – the biggest and most sophisticated of its kind in the United States. The plant is dedicated to making enzymes for renewable fuels, turning biomass – from agricultural waste to household trash – into fuel. The plant created 500 jobs: 100 full-time and 400 for construction. Novozymes leveraged its private investment with an advanced manufacturing tax credit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, allowing the plant’s technology to come online more quickly and move the renewable fuels industry – especially cellulosic and other advanced biofuels – to commercialization.

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