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A publication of the Office for Trade Promotion Volume 2 Dr. Muhammad Yunus 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Launches His New Book story on page 4 pg 14 pg 10 An Interview with Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvian Ambassador The Wilson Center Says Goodbye to Lee Hamilton WITA’s 2010 Annual Awards Dinner pg 6 RRBITCP1_TrdewndsVol2_2010.indd 1 9/27/10 11:23:07 AM
Transcript
Page 1: Yunus - thewritersforhire.com · Dr. Muhammad Yunus 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Launches His New Book story on page 4 pg 14 pg 10 An Interview with Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvian

A publication of theOffice for Trade Promotion

Volume

2

Dr. Muhammad

Yunus2006 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

Launches His New Bookstory on page 4

pg 14

pg 10

An Interview with Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvian Ambassador

The Wilson Center Says Goodbye to Lee Hamilton

WITA’s 2010 Annual Awards Dinner

pg 6

RRBITCP1_TrdewndsVol2_2010.indd 1 9/27/10 11:23:07 AM

Page 2: Yunus - thewritersforhire.com · Dr. Muhammad Yunus 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Launches His New Book story on page 4 pg 14 pg 10 An Interview with Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvian

A publication of the Office for Trade Promotion

Welcome

Autumn 2010 | 3

DepartmentsCULTURAL EXCHANGE 06 Interview with Latvian

Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics07 Business Opportunities in Latvia09 A Celebration of Kazakh Culture

COLLABORATION10 WITA’s Annual Awards Dinner11 U.S.-Polish Energy Roundtable

DIPLOMACY 13 Jordanian Envoy Promotes

Mideast Peace

EDUCATION12 Global Cybersecurity Policy

Conference

OUTREACH 15 Africa Growth Opportunity Forum

Features04 ON THE COVER 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Muhammad Yunus Kicks Off His Nationwide Book Tour

14 IMPACT & INITIATIVES Lee Hamilton Steps Down as

Wilson Center Director

Promoting Diplomacy Through Music: The 2010 Embassy Concert Series

18 THE BACK PAGE A Closer Look at the National

Export Initiative

In This Issue A Message from Andrew Gelfuso

Notes from the Editor

The Autumn 2010 issue of Tradewinds marks the unveiling of our redesign. Not only is this

enhanced format more visually engaging, but it also reflects the tenor of our more progressive

business model and improves the experience for those viewing our online version.

Whether you prefer reading a hard copy or flipping through the pages of our interactive

web-based publication, every edition of Tradewinds provides the latest information on all our

trade-related events and programs—and an inside look at the people and policies that drive

global commerce.

In this issue, we recognize our ever-expanding roster of special visitors, provide updates on key trade initiatives

and highlight select events from our full schedule, including:

• Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, founder of Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank, kicked off his book tour with a talk at

the RRB/ITC. Yunus’ latest book, “Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most

Pressing Needs” explains how socially responsible capitalism can offset social ills like poverty and hunger.

• The Tradewinds staff had a chance to sit down with Latvian Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics. During our interview, we

discussed Latvia’s future as a tourist destination and trade hub. As an added bonus, Ambassador Pildegovics tells us

where to find authentic Latvian beer in DC.

• Attendees to the U.S.-Polish Energy Roundtable discussed opportunities for collaboration on future energy-related

projects in Poland, including clean coal technology and alternative energy sources.

Also in this issue: The Embassy Series promotes cultural understanding through music; an update on the National Export

Initiative; a visit from Jordanian Ambassador Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein and much more.

It’s been an active and ambitious year, and the coming months are shaping up to be no exception. To find out more about

our rich calendar of events, visit www.itcdc.com.

Here’s to an equally event-full fall season!

Andrew GelfusoDirector, Office for Trade Promotion

The 2010-2011 season of the Embassy Concert Series kicks off at the Iraqi Cultural Center. Part world-class concert and part diplomatic reception, Embassy Series performances are unique cultural events that promote international understanding through music. (page 14)

The Center for Social Value Creation, a specialized program operated by the Robert H. Smith School of Business, offers students real-world field experience, cutting-edge coursework and extensive resources to prepare them to tackle today’s complex global issues and create innovative business solutions. (page 5)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks to the President’s Forum with Young African Leaders.

Throughout this publication, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is referred to as the RRB/ITC

Cover Photo: Kurt xiaoyi Tang / The Bund Weekly

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A Project of the U.S. General Services Administration

Feature Article

Autumn 2010 | 5

Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Prize winner and founder of Bangladesh’s

Grameen Bank, visited the Ronald Reagan Building to kick off his

nationwide book tour.

he event was organized by Hooks Book

Events with support from the Social

Value Creation Program at the University

of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.

In his third book, “Building Social Business: The

New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s

Most Pressing Needs,” Yunus explains the con-

cept of ‘social business’ and shares insights, ad-

vice and case studies from his over three decades

of involvement with social business in his native

Bangladesh. Reversing conventional banking wisdom,

Yunus focuses on women borrowers, providing them credit without

requiring collateral.

MuhammadYunus

Launches Book Tour at RRB/ITC

Nobel Prize-WinningEconomist and Banker

Discusses a ‘New Kindof Capitalism’

During his lecture, Yunus discussed his

own involvement with social business,

from the groundbreaking Grameen

Bank—started with a loan of $27 from

his own pocket—to later initiatives and

programs aimed at using creativity to

address pressing needs, and not to

maximize profits.

Fighting Poverty by Helping People Help Themselves

One of Yunus’ more recent programs

was an initiative to prevent malnourish-

ment-related night blindness in children.

According to Yunus, the conventional

response to this epidemic was to dis-

tribute vitamin capsules in Bangladesh’s

poorest districts. Yunus explained that,

while this strategy may have provided

a short-term solution to the vitamin

deficiency, it ultimately created a situa-

tion in which impoverished people were

forced to depend on a product that

they could not produce themselves—

and could not afford to purchase.

Yunus instead began a small business

that allowed people to buy affordably

priced vegetable seeds. This program

gave participants the power to create

their own supply of fresh, vitamin-rich

food and succeeded not only in mitigat-

ing malnutrition, but also in serving as

a model for the long-term benefits of

helping people help themselves.

Since founding Grameen Bank (which

translates to “Village Bank”) in the early

1980s, Yunus has expanded his social

business operations to include projects

in a variety of fields including energy,

software, telecommunications, textiles

and food production. While the proj-

ects are diverse, they all have the same

core goal: creating sustainable solu-

tions for the world’s most daunting so-

cial problems. All of Yunus’ programs

are designed to earn enough profit to

be self-sustaining; all surplus profits are

reinvested in the business.

About the Event

The Muhammad Yunus book launch

was organized by Hooks Book Events

and the Social Value Creation program

at the University of Maryland’s Smith

School of Business. It was hosted by

the RRB/ITC. Andrew Gelfuso, director

of the Office for Trade Promotion,

provided opening remarks. During

his introduction, Gelfuso emphasized

the wide scope of the ITC’s mission

and its unique position as a public-

private partnership.

To learn more about Hooks Book Events, visit hooksbookevents.com.

Muhammad Yunus at the 2010 Presidential Entrepreneurship Summit. © America.gov

Above: Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank with OTP Staff, Hooks Book Event Staff and G. “Anand” Anandalingam, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland

With the goal of developing leaders with a deep sense of individual responsibility and the knowledge to use business as a vehicle for social and environ-mental change, the Social Value Creation (SVC) Center at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business takes a four-pronged approach:

Experiential LearningThe flagship component of the center is experiential learning—the opportunity for students to engage in real-world field experiences, such as consult-ing with a nonprofit organization or traveling abroad to work on sustainable projects.

CourseworkAt Smith, Social Value Creation is not an “adjunct” to a student’s education. Because the center is not housed within a specific department, courses are offered across all disciplines—whether core, electives or selectives.

ResearchTo date, the center has awarded seven grants for faculty devel-oping original research topics relevant to social and environ-mental impact.

Career DevelopmentWorking closely with Smith’s Office of Career Services, the center hosts a number of net-working events, site visits, and maintains a robust collection of job search resources.

For more information visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/svc/

The Smith Center for Social Value Creation

T

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A publication of the Office for Trade Promotion

Cultural Exchange

Autumn 2010 | 7

A Discussion with LatvianAmbassador Andrejs Pildegovics

Please note: What follows is an abridged version of the

interview. For a complete transcript, please view our online

edition of Tradewinds at www.itcdc.com/about.

Q. Can you tell us a few of your mission’s goals while

you’re in Washington?

Our goal is to promote multifaceted exchanges on a

broad array of issues related to international security,

economic cooperation, energy and transportation. The

embassy also collaborates with universities, scientists

and artists. For example, in June, the internationally

renowned Riga Dom Cathedral Boys’ choir performed

in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. It was a

great honor that the boys were personally welcomed by

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama

at the White House.

Q. How do you feel relations between the U.S. and

Latvia might be improved? What bilateral/multilateral

challenges persist?

I believe that we could and should do more to strength-

en economic ties between the two states. The time is

ripe to raise them to a new level based on the following

three reasons:

First, over the last five years, Latvia has matured as

an EU member state. Second, Latvia has managed to

resolve imbalances in its economy and regain com-

petitiveness. Third, the recent “reset” policy between

Russia and the West has opened new opportunities for

economic exchanges.

Q. How does Latvian culture differ from that of its

Baltic neighbors?

We are very similar, and at the same time, very different.

All three nations are very proud of their national cultures,

where traditional singing and dancing, for example, play

an important part. However, history has left its marks on

the path of every nation. Estonians, due to their linguis-

tic closeness, have developed strong cultural ties with

Finland. Lithuanians share a rich heritage with Poland and

enjoy a strong Central European identity. Latvians, being

in the middle, have the capability of understanding and

identifying with both our northern and southern neighbors.

This summer, Andrew Gelfuso had the opportunity to chat with Latvian Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics. During the conversation, Ambassador Pildegovics shared his thoughts about the economy, U.S.-Latvian relations and the best place to enjoy a cold glass of authentic Latvian beer.

Q. What is the biggest misconception the average

American has about Latvia? Along somewhat similar

lines, what about your homeland don’t we know that

we should?

Latvia is still not very widely known in the United States.

I have observed during my visits outside Washington,

DC that Latvia is much better known in Minneapolis than

in Los Angeles. I joke that one of my core missions is to

help the country to become rich and famous.

We encourage Americans to travel more to Latvia and

our Baltic neighbors [Estonia and Lithuania]. Visitors will

be amazed at the rich history, beautiful architecture and

friendly people. As some say, Latvia is the best-kept

secret in Europe!

Q. What are Latvia’s biggest exports to the U.S.? What

goods and services are imported from the U.S.?

By far, Latvia’s biggest exports to the U.S. consist of food

products; particularly spirits and alcoholic drinks, which

make up more than a third of our exports. Mechanics,

machinery and electronics—mainly parts—account for

about 25 percent of exports. Furniture is becoming a

good export product as well.

The main goods imported from the U.S. are high-tech

and industrial production machinery, medical equipment,

chemical products and airplane parts.

Interview continued on page 8

Ambassador of Latvia Andrejs Pildegovics (right) congratulates

his Estonian counterpart Väino Reinart

The Latvian Chamber of Commerce

in the Americas and the Embassy of

the Republic of Latvia held a seminar

that highlighted the various investment

and business opportunities available

in Latvia.

The program was held in the Oceanic

Room at the Ronald Reagan Building

and International Trade Center (RRB/

ITC). Guest speakers included Ainars

Slesers, vice mayor of the City of Riga,

and Bertold Flick, president and CEO

of Air Baltic. Latvian Ambassador to

the United States Andrejs Pildegovics

was among the attendees.

In recent years, Latvia’s capital city of

Riga has experienced a large influx

of tourism from Eastern European

countries like Russia. The country’s

strategic location and well-developed

entertainment industry have made

Riga a popular tourist destination,

which has led to the expansion of

Latvia’s national airline, Baltic Airways.

In addition to its burgeoning tourism

industry, Latvia has become a hub

for the transportation of goods and

services to Russia and parts of

Central Asia.

During his speech, Slesers told

attendees that by leaning on its shared

eastern and western cultures, Riga

will help to link Europe with Asia; the

Middle East with India. Expansion

of Riga’s all-season seaport,

development of its international

airport and the construction of new

exhibition and entertainment facilities

will also help transform Riga into a true

‘destination city.’

Latvia, a member of the European Union, is located in the heart of the Baltic States, and has a population of approximately 2.2 mil-lion. For more information, visit the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas at www.latchamamericas.org.

Seminar at RRB/ITC Focuses on

Business Opportunities in Latvia

LATVIARIGA

RUSSIA

RUSSIA(Kaliningrad

Oblast)

BELARUS

LITHUANIA

ESTONIA

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A Project of the U.S. General Services Administration

Cultural Exchange

Autumn 2010 | 9

instruments, such as the two-stringed

fiddle (qobyz), long-necked lute (dom-

bra), zither (jetygen), end-blown flute

(sybyzghy), mouth harp (shan-qobyz)

and Kazakh ocarina (saz-syrnay).

increased emphasis on manufacturing and a slight shift

away from services that dominated in the previous years.

One of our main challenges is to preserve social stability

with a balanced social budget.

Q. What impact has the recent slide of the euro had on

the trading relationship between Latvia and the U.S.?

Global recovery is progressing better than previously an-

ticipated, albeit at different speeds. Trade is central to any

framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

Latvia has established a positive export-import balance

with a surplus of $36 million—mainly because exports fell

only by 15 percent during the crisis and recovery stages

of the weakened euro, while U.S. imports fell by 47 per-

cent in 2009.

Q. Do you have a favorite Latvian restaurant in the DC

area you might recommend for those of us in search of

an authentic meal?

A Latvian restaurant in the DC area is still to come, but

we do serve Latvian food and drinks at our embassy

events—and so does the Latvian Community Center in

Rockville. For now, I would recommend you to stop by

the Latvian Embassy during one of

our events to enjoy a glass of

cold Latvian beer and authentic

Riga’s Balsam.

Q. I’ve read that Latvia is fast becoming a major hub

for transportation, nestled between the East and West.

Are there any government initiatives you feel will be

integral to your country realizing its full potential in

this capacity?

The reinvention of the

‘modern silk road,’ if you

will. This is the hottest topic

at the moment for Latvia. It

started here in Washington

when, just over a year ago,

the U.S. started sending its

military cargo through Riga

to Afghanistan. The so-

called ‘Northern Distribution

Network’—or ‘NDN’— immediately surprised everyone by

its success! It’s amazing. In just 10 days, a container can

travel from the Riga port to Hairaton in Afghanistan via rail

through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

NDN has tremendous potential and is a total win-win

situation for everyone involved, especially Afghanistan,

which sees Latvian transit as a key to creating a

stable economy.

Q. Your country’s economy was hit particularly hard

during the recent economic downturn. What are

Latvia’s largest economic challenges moving forward?

Latvia experienced tremendous economic growth after

joining the EU in 2004—our economy grew by 12 to 15

percent. Then the bubble burst during the global financial

crisis, and our economy fell for more than a year, at times

by close to 20 percent.

Now the worst is behind us. Latvia already shows signs

of economic stabilization: For the first time since

early 2008, we saw seasonally adjusted GDP

growth in the first quarter of this year. There has

been further growth in exports resulting from a

successful reconstruction of our economy, an

Interview with Latvian Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics continued from page 7

The Embassy of Kazakhstan

recently launched its 2010

Washington Kazakhstan Festival

celebrating and sharing Kazakh

culture with the American public.

“We are thrilled for this opportu-

nity to provide a glimpse of our

culture through public perfor-

mances and exhibitions,” said

H.E. Erlan Idrissov, Kazakhstan’s

ambassador to the United States.

“No doubt we will see stron-

ger relations between our two

countries develop as a result.”

The Presidential Folk Orchestra of

the Republic of Kazakhstan par-

ticipated in official launch week

activities with a performance at

the Ronald Reagan Building. This

unique concert celebrated the

musical heritage of the Kazakhs

and featured melodies of the

nomads of the Kazakh Steppes.

Virtuoso performances by master

musicians featured traditional folk

A Celebration of Kazakh Culture

Latvia is the best-kept

secret in Europe!

Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics

The 2010 Washington Kazakhstan Festival showcases Kazakhstan’s rich heritage of music, science, art, and international influence. Events and exhibitions continue throughout the year.

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A publication of the Office for Trade Promotion

Collaboration

Autumn 2010 | 11

Senator Max Bauchus and Ambassador John Huntsman Honored at WITA Awards Dinner

he Washington International Trade Association

(WITA) and the Washington International Trade

Foundation (WITF) celebrated the achievements

of Senator Max Bauchus (D-MT) and Ambassador John

Huntsman at the 2010 WITA/

WITF Annual Awards Dinner.

Hundreds of attendees—

including policymakers, trade

professionals and business

leaders—attended the din-

ner, which is one of the D.C.

area’s premier trade events.

The dinner took place in

the Atrium Ballroom of the

Ronald Reagan Building and

International Trade Center

(RRB/ITC). Andrew Gelfuso,

director of the Office for

Trade Promotion, welcomed event attendees. In his opening

remarks, Gelfuso shared some of the highlights of the RRB/

ITC’s rich calendar of events.

“This year, we have held over 200 trade events open to the

public in addition to hosting numerous important public

figures,” Gelfuso said. “Just this morning, President Obama

and Vice President Biden signed the new financial reform bill,

right here in the Amphitheater.”

Senator Max Bauchus: A Lifetime of Trade Leadership

The first award of the evening, the WITA/WITF Lifetime

Achievement Award, was given to Sen. Max Bauchus.

Bauchus, who has represented his home state of Montana

since 1978, currently serves as the chairman of the Senate

Finance Committee. Some of the highlights of his contribu-

tions to international trade include support for Free Trade

Agreements with Oman, Peru, Singapore and Chile; support

for the establishment of the World Trade Organization; and

trade missions to Cuba and parts of Asia and Australia. In

recent years, Sen. Bauchus has turned his attention to trade

relations between the U.S. and China.

During his acceptance speech, Sen. Bauchus stressed the

importance of sustained, positive international trade relations.

“In 1978, the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan ac-

counted for nearly 70 percent of the world economy. Today,

their share is just over 50 percent,” he said.

“Our trade with Asia has also grown dramatically,” he

added. “China was our 43rd-largest trading partner. Today, it

is second.”

Sen. Bauchus said the U.S. needs a strong, rules-based

trading system to ensure that high-quality products reach

consumers around the world. He also stressed the impor-

tance of enforcing existing trade agreements—especially

those related to intellectual property.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the organization’s

top honor, is given to individuals who have demonstrated life-

long leadership in international trade policy. Past recipients

include Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Congressman

Robert Matsui (D-CA).

Ambassador John Huntsman Earns Distinguished Service Award

John Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to China, earned the

WITA/WITF Distinguished Service Award for his multiple con-

tributions to international trade. During his time as Deputy

U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Huntsman played a

leading role in dozens of trade and investment agreements

with China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and India; as well as

several other parts of Africa and Asia. Ambassador Hunts-

man was also a key player in the launch of the current round

of World Trade Organization negotiations in Doha.

In addition to his current role as U.S. Ambassador to China,

Ambassador Huntsman served as a U.S. Ambassador to Sin-

gapore in 1992 and 1993. He served as governor of his home

state of Utah from 2005 to 2009.

Past recipients of the award include U.S. Trade Representative

Susan C. Schwab and Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY).

About WITA and WITF

WITA is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that provides a

neutral forum for the open discussion of international trade is-

sues. It is widely considered to be DC’s premier trade forum.

WITF is the 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the

educational activities of WITA.

For more information on either organization, including in-depth coverage of the awards dinner, visit www.wita.org

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Received the WITA/WITFLifetime Achievement Award

Representatives from Poland and the

U.S. gathered in the Pavilion at the

RRB/ITC for the U.S.-Polish Energy

Roundtable. The event, co-organized

by the Trade & Investment Section of

the Polish Embassy in Washington,

the U.S. Energy Association, and

the Department of Commerce,

provided an opportunity for over

100 representatives

from U.S. and Polish

government agencies,

research institutions and

private businesses to share

expertise and collaborate

on potential energy-related

investment opportunities

in Poland.

Marcin Korolec, undersecretary of

state for Poland’s Ministry of Econ-

omy, co-chaired the event with his

counterpart Juan Verde, deputy assis-

tant secretary at the U.S. Department

of Commerce. The roundtable served

as a valuable forum for representa-

tives from Poland and the United

States to focus on the benefits of

working collaboratively.

Discussions identified several poten-

tial areas for joint enterprise, includ-

ing clean coal technologies (CCT);

carbon capture and storage (CCS);

renewable energy; ‘conventional’ fuel

sources (oil and gas); energy efficien-

cy and nuclear energy. In addition,

participants discussed financing

options for energy-related projects in

Poland and in the U.S.

For more details about this event please visit www.usea.org/Publications/Documents/US-Poland_Energy_Roundtable _Agenda

From Left: Juan Verde, Jay Burgess, Marcin Korolec, Tomasz Ostaszewicz

TCelebrating Leadership and Vision

in the Advancement

of Trade Policy

RRB/ITC Hosts U.S.-Polish Energy Roundtable

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Education

Jordanian Envoy Promotes Mideast PeacePrince Zeid Discusses U.S.-Jordan Relations

he Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade

Center hosted a talk by Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid

Al-Hussein, Jordanian ambassador to the U.S.

During the event—which was co-sponsored by the National

Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and Bridges of Understand-

ing—Prince Zeid discussed the turmoil in the Middle East.

“Our collective will has not brought us to a defining point,”

he said. He remarked that the nations of the Middle East

need to engage in the conversation on sustainable growth

and development, a dialogue that, he said, has been ne-

glected for far too long.

On the international front, Prince Zeid discussed the impact

of numerous missed opportunities for peace since the

1960s. Although the scope and complexity of problems

in the Middle East seem immense, Prince Zeid was able

to highlight several bright spots including the recent elec-

tions in Lebanon and Iraq, and the steadfast commitment

of the peace initiatives during the recent Arab Summit in

Libya. With regard to domestic issues, Prince Zeid noted

noted that under King Abdullah II, Jordan has embarked

on programs to curb religious fanaticism, training mosque

preachers for instance, while boosting economic develop-

ment to wean the country from its dependence on petro-

leum imports.

Other speakers included Cardinal Theodore McCarrick,

who opened the event with an interfaith prayer. Following

the invocation, Andrew Gelfuso, director of the Office for

Trade Promotion at the International Trade Center, gave

welcoming remarks. The event was moderated by Dr.

John Duke Anthony, president and CEO of the

National Council on U.S.-Arab

Relations, as well as Kathryn Hubbard from the Bridges of

Understanding Foundation.

For video coverage of the event, visit www.c-spanvideo.org/program/292806-1

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

The National Council on U.S.-Arab relations is a nonprofit,

non-partisan organization that promotes peace, understand-

ing and acceptance between the United States and the Arab

world. For additional information, visit www.ncusar.org.

About Bridges of Understanding

Bridges of Understanding is a nonprofit, nonpolitical

organization that fosters understanding between Americans

and the Arab world. To learn more,

visit www.bridgesofuderstanding.org.

The Stevens Institute of Technology held its first-ever Global Cybersecurity Policy Conference at its new campus in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

The two-day event included several

keynote sessions that provided fresh

perspectives on this timely subject.

Melissa Hathaway, who led President

Obama’s 60-day cybersecurity policy

review, emphasized the importance of

public-private partnerships in secur-

ing critical national infrastructure

systems. Ed Amoroso, senior vice

president and chief security officer for

AT&T, explained new ways of thinking

about cybersecurity at the enter-

prise level as an enabler for greater

institutional effectiveness. And in his

keynote remarks, Major General Dale

Meyerrose (USAF, ret.), vice president

of the Harris Corporation, provided a

practical perspective on cybersecurity

that integrated his experiences both

as a military officer and the first chief

information officer of the U.S. intel-

ligence community.

Ten panel discussions, drawing

upon the expertise of 50 technical

specialists, addressed the impact of

cybersecurity across all sectors of

society, including energy; law enforce-

ment; civil rights and personal liberties;

telecommunications; finance; medical;

emergent technologies, innovation

and business growth; military; aviation

and corporations.

The event chair, the Honorable Michael

W. Wynne, 21st secretary of the Air

Force, provided closing remarks.

Over 200 speakers and participants

attended the conference. C-SPAN

covered the event and has several

webcasts available on its site,

including Amoroso’s and Hathaway’s

presentations: www.c-spanvideo.org.

About the Stevens Institute of Technology

The Stevens Institute of Technology

is a private institution that focuses on

research and entrepreneurship. At its

RRB/ITC campus, The Stevens Institute

offers master’s degree programs in

systems engineering and cybersecurity.

For more information, visit

www.stevens.edu.

Global Cybersecurity Conference T

Right: HE Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, Ambassador of Jordan

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Impact & Initiatives AGOA 2010 ForumOpens with Pledges to Improve Trade

Impact & Initiatives

A Project of the U.S. General Services Administration Autumn 2010 | 15

12 Years of Leadership:

Lee Hamilton Steps Down as Wilson Center Director In 1999, around the

time the Woodrow

Wilson International

Center for Schol-

ars moved into the

Ronald Reagan

Building, former

Congressman Lee

Hamilton came on

board as the Cen-

ter’s new director.

This fall, after

nearly 12 years

of esteemed

leadership,

Hamilton will step

down as president and director and move

back to Indiana with his wife Nancy.

Under Hamilton’s leadership, the Wilson Center has ex-

panded dramatically: the number of staff, program offices

and scholars in residence has grown substantially. A focus

on communications efforts has extended the reach of the

Center. In addition, the Wilson Center reversed its fundrais-

ing ratio so that the federal appropriation no longer accounts

for the majority of the Center’s operating budget. The Center

now receives nearly two-thirds of its funding from private

sources and roughly one-third from Congress.

The Wilson Center’s staff and scholars attribute the Center’s

growth and success in large part to Hamilton’s leadership

style. He came with a reputation for bipartisanship and

has led the Center with integrity. Staff and scholars always

admired his open-door policy; he remained accessible to

everyone, from senior scholar to intern.

“Lee is an honest, decent, thoughtful human being in a city

where these qualities are all too rare,” said colleague Blair

Ruble, director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute.

The Embassy Series:Uniting Cultures through Musical Diplomacy

Everyone says it. One of the special things about living

in Washington is the presence of 175 embassies and

the diverse cultures they represent. But how many

Washingtonians actually take advantage of this presence?

Thanks to Jerome Barry, an American baritone who speaks

nine languages, everyone who loves good music can enjoy

first-class concerts and lively receptions in dozens of em-

bassies throughout the city.

“It’s not just entertainment,” says Barry, who founded the

concert series nine years ago. “Through their national music

and cultural displays, participating embassies promote pub-

lic awareness and acceptance.”

As one cultural attaché said, neatly summing up the senti-

ments of Washington’s diplomatic corps, “Culture is the

bearer of the most important information about a country.

This is how we can really make ourselves understood.”

For more information and topurchase tickets, visit www.embassyseries.org

In October, the Embassy of

Australia presents Graham Ashton, Trumpet;

Donna Balson, Soprano (pictured);

John Lettieri, Piano.

he annual U.S.–Sub-Saharan

Africa Trade and Economic

Cooperation Forum—better

known as the AGOA Forum—opened

in August at the Ronald Reagan

Building with U.S. and African officials

pledging to make the U.S. trade pref-

erence program work even better to

stimulate economic growth and devel-

opment on both sides of the Atlantic.

Hosted by the Department of State,

the AGOA Forum was attended by

more than 600 participants, including

senior U.S. and African officials, as

well as U.S. and African members of

the private sector and civil society.

Supporting this year’s theme, “AGOA

at 10: New Strategies for a Changing

World,” forum sessions focused on

the links between private investment

and economic growth in Africa.

In her keynote address, Secretary of

State Hillary Clinton recounted her

recent trip to Africa and the progress

she saw sweeping the continent. “In

small villages and sprawling cities

poverty, conflict and corruption are

giving way to opportunity, stability

and democracy,” she said.

U.S. Trade Representative

Ron Kirk and Kenya’s Minister

of Trade Amos Muhinga

Kimunya addressed the

opening session. Also on the

dais were Assistant Secretary

of State for African Affairs Johnnie

Carson and Deputy Assistant

Secretary of State for African Affairs

William Fitzgerald.

Referring to the forum’s ten-year

anniversary, Kirk said, “The United

States remains committed to

partnering with Africa to address

the challenges of poverty, health,

education, conflict, governance and

economic development.”

AGOA represents a progressive U.S.

trade and investment policy toward

the continent that is reducing bar-

riers to trade, increasing diversified

exports, creating jobs and expanding

opportunities for Africans.

Specifically, AGOA provides

trade preferences to des-

ignated countries that are

making progress in eco-

nomic and political reforms.

There are currently 38 sub-Saharan

African countries that can take ad-

vantage of the trade benefits.

During the first five months of 2010,

U. S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa

increased seven percent to $6.4 bil-

lion, and U.S. imports increased 78

percent to $26.6 billion. AGOA was

enacted in its original form in May

2000 to expand U.S.-sub-Saharan

trade and investment, stimulate

economic growth and help integrate

sub-Saharan Africa into the greater

global economy.”“The United

States remains committed to

partnering with Africa...

Above: U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk © WTO Photo: Jay Louvion, Studio CasagrandeBelow: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing AGOA

T

Photographer: Luke Delalio

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The Back Page

President Obama says the U.S. has made significant export-related progress since the launch of the National Export Initiative (NEI) earlier this year. The NEI, which is an unprec-edented, government-wide export program, has helped increase U.S. exports and create new opportunities for U.S. businesses.

During his September speech at a meeting of the President’s Export Council, President Obama acknowledged that some of the NEI’s goals—doubling American exports, increasing trade missions, and creating thousands of much-needed jobs—will take time. But he noted that just six months into the program, there has been significant progress.

“Despite some strong economic headwinds this year, we’ve already seen some progress . . . we’re very pleased to see that [exports] are up 18 percent to where they were a year ago,” he said. “And manufacturing exports are up 20 percent. And that’s helping put a lot of our people back to work.”

President Obama said exports are critical to helping American businesses grow and prosper in the next five years—and he’s continuing to look for ways to step up U.S. export activities.

“America is going to bat as a stronger partner and a better advocate for our businesses abroad,” he said. “We’re removing barriers to help businesses get a foothold in new markets. We’re increasing export financing for small and medium-sized businesses.”

President Obama first announced plans for the NEI during his State of the Union Address on January 27. To learn more about the NEI or to view President Obama’s entire speech, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/16/remarks-president-meeting-with-presidents-export-council

To learn more about the NEI or view a transcript of the entire speech, visit www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office

Taking a Closer Look:A National Export Initiative Progress Report

Brenda Klein8494 Bonita Isle DriveLake Worth, FL 33467

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20004

Tradewinds highlights trade events and activities at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. It is a copyrighted publication of the Office for Trade Promotion (OTP), the programming arm of the International Trade Center. Please address comments and suggestions to the editor at [email protected].

PublisherJeremy Downs, director of the International Trade Center for the GSA

EditorAndrew Gelfuso, director of the Office for Trade Promotion

ContributorsHosai Rashid and Ryan Bodge, OTP staff

For a listing of upcoming trade events, visit www.itcdc.com/trade.

The International Trade Center is operated by Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA).

“Even as we’re working

to get our economy

moving today, we are also laying a

new foundation for growth

tomorrow.”

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