One of the highest-ranking officials in U.S. trade and commerce is speaking at UK on Wednesday.

Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, will speak to UK students, faculty and staff on international trade and commerce and career prospects abroad.

Carey Cavanaugh, director of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and Public Policy, helped bring Kumar to campus.

“(Kumar) is going to talk about trade promotions and efforts that the Obama administration is trying to make to advance the sell of American goods abroad,” Cavanaugh said.

Kumar said he also wants to talk to students about how big the global marketplace is.

“When speaking to a group of students…it is to open up their minds into career opportunities in exports,” Kumar said.

The event will be from 3-4 p.m. in the Lexmark Public Room of UK’s Main Building. Admission is free and open to the public.