U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands with Boeing CEO James McNerney at the first-ever State Department Global Business Conference in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Feb. 21, 2012. Clinton said on Tuesday she will appoint the State Department's first chief economist, as she laid out the plans for diplomats to promote U.S. business abroad and domestic jobs. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday she will appoint the State Department's first chief economist, as she laid out the plans for diplomats to promote U.S. business abroad and domestic jobs.

"I have made 'Jobs Diplomacy' a priority mission at the State Department...just as our companies are ready to out-work, out- innovate, and out-compete their rivals, so we intend to be the most effective diplomatic champions for prosperity and growth," Clinton said at the first-ever State Department Global Business Conference.

The conference brought together representatives from more than 100 countries, corporate executives, and senior U.S. government leaders.

"We're changing the way we do business to better advance and support the way you do business," Clinton told the corporate leaders at the conference, adding that the State Department is improving training for diplomats in economics, finance and markets to ensure they could promote job creation in the U.S. and overseas.

Clinton said she will name Heidi Rediker as the first-ever chief economist at the State Department. "She has a deep knowledge of financial and other markets and extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, and I look forward to her contributions to our team," she added.