The USC Marshall School of Business and the U.S. Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce’s 24th annual Asia/Pacific Business Outlook conference, which commenced Monday, featured seminar-style talks on sale strategies and new markets in the thriving Asian economy.

Among the focuses of this year’s conference is the National Export Initiative, launched by President Obama in 2009, that aims to double U.S. exports.

The United States’ trade deficit in goods and services increased to $46.3 billion in January from $40.3 billion in December. U.S. companies are continuously looking to Asian markets, especially in light of the nation’s trade deficit reality.