CAPAC Endorses Dilawar Syed for Deputy Administrator of Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) announced its formal endorsement of Dilawar Syed to be the next Deputy Administrator at the Small Business Administration (SBA). Mr. Syed has previously been supported in this nomination by many CAPAC Members, including CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28). After a vote last week, he has now been backed by the entire caucus.

Presently, Mr. Syed serves as the Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the State Department. Previously, as Founding Chair of California Entrepreneurship Taskforce, he expanded access to resources to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and other underserved communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Mr. Syed served on the White House Initiative on AAPIs from 2010 to 2014 and served as Chair of their Economic Growth Committee, where he led the Administration's engagement with small businesses across the U.S.  He also served as a liaison with the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce on federal initiatives such as the President's Export Council. In the private sector, Mr. Syed has built and scaled ventures in software, AI, healthcare, and consumer media.

Chair Chu issued the following statement on the endorsement:

“Dilawar Syed has a storied career as both a committed public servant and successful entrepreneur in the private sector. At the State Department now, Mr. Syed provides assistance to U.S. companies competing abroad and has helped create thousands of American jobs back home. This experience, and his previous professional experiences across the public and private sector, make him an ideal candidate to partner with Administrator Guzman to support the engines of our economy—small businesses.

“The Small Business Administration is the only federal agency without a Number 2 in leadership for almost five years. Mr. Syed is eminently qualified for this role and I commend President Biden for renominating him in January. CAPAC is proud to endorse Dilawar Syed as our next Deputy Administrator of the SBA, and urges the Senate to swiftly confirm his nomination.”

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