Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, hosted a conference for more than 1,500 manufacturing and government officials last Thursday at its US Manufacturing Summit. The event, which was held at the Orlando Convention Center, was co-sponsored by the National Retail Federation. Scheduled participants included Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Walmart CEO Mike Duke, GE chairman Jeff Immelt and the governors of eight states. Walmart’s hosting the summit is part of the company’s commitment to buy an additional $50 billion in products made in the US over the next ten years, according to a company news release.