LISA KUBISKE MAKES REMARKS AT GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE ROUNDTABLE

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Global Reporting Initiative Roundtable
Remarks
Lisa J. Kubiske
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Finance and Development, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
GRI
Washington, DC
June 22, 2015

As Prepared

Welcome to what I consider to be an incredibly important collaboration – and thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedules to be here this afternoon. Many of our private sector participants have come long distances to participate in these roundtables, and we greatly appreciate their willingness to do so. Although this is an event jointly organized by GRI and The State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, GRI has done more than its fair share of the preparations. Teresa, Robyn, and the rest of the GRI team have done an incredible job.

2015 will be a critical year for development and for the multilateral system. Three major UN conferences this year together have the potential to form a global consensus on development that could last 15 years or more and have impacts that affect generations to come.

All the reflection and analysis that takes place before these conferences reinforces what we already know: the private sector is the key player in advancing development. This is why it is so important that GRI brought together such innovative and dynamic U.S. companies here today so that we in the U.S. government can learn from and capitalize on your experiences and best practices.

For 17 years, the Secretary of State has, through the “ACE” awards or Awards for Corporate Excellence, formally recognized U.S. businesses that undertake responsible activities to improve lives and advance the needs of local communities around the world.

Beyond private philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, the private sector is a key partner in development through establishing new enterprises, creating jobs, providing goods and services, generating income and profits, and contributing to public revenues. Domestic private sector growth is the lifeblood to developing countries’ economies, whereby businesses deliver investment, trade, jobs, and innovation. Domestic private finance has greatly surpassed public finance in recent years, making it the single largest source of finance for all developing countries.

According to World Bank, in 2014, private infrastructure investment for energy, transport and water projects was $107.5 billion among the 139 emerging economies. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is by far the biggest source of international capital flows to developing countries – around 60% on average.

But there is also growing recognition that some of the most important, effective development initiatives involve the public and private sectors working together. Today, Official Development Assistance represents only about 28% of all official and private flows from OECD members. Through innovative financing mechanisms and public-private partnerships, ODA can spur key investments and prompt important reforms in developing countries that enable the private sector to have even more impact.

The UN conferences this year provide a real opportunity to reaffirm and build upon the global development consensus that we developed in Monterrey and confirmed in Doha. And the private sector should be at the heart of that consensus.

The U.S. Government is taking initiative to make the world a more hospitable place for U.S. businesses to set up shop. We are negotiating trade and investment agreements. Some are in the headlines, like TPP and T-TIP. Some, less so, like the China BIT negotiations. We are also working hard to put together the National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct that President Obama announced last September. We believe the plan will help to consolidate the excellent brand and reputation U.S. businesses have established around the world by being responsible partners in development for nations and communities alike.

I look forward to today’s discussion and the ideas that come from it. And I am excited about finding new ways we can further collaborate and drive private sector investment and public private partnerships.

AG HOLDER ANNOUNCES DOJ DESIGNEE CO-CHAIR OF PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON PUERTO RICO

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Friday, November 7, 2014

Attorney General Holder Announces Stuart Delery Will Serve as the Department of Justice Designee as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico
Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that Stuart Delery, the Acting Associate Attorney General, will serve as the Department of Justice’s designee as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico.

“Stuart Delery is an exceptional public servant who will continue the work of his predecessors, Tom Perrelli and Tony West, as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico,” said Attorney General Holder.  “Stuart demonstrated his commitment to strengthen our nation’s security and to protect public health and safety in his prior role as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division.  Stuart will serve the Task Force – and the people of Puerto Rico – well.”

“The ongoing work of the Task Force reflects the Administration’s – and the Department of Justice’s – commitment to the people of Puerto Rico,” said Associate Attorney General Delery.  “I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Task Force, and look forward to working with my federal colleagues and Commonwealth officials in Puerto Rico and Washington.”

 The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico, which is co-chaired by the Attorney General’s designee and the White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, was created by President Bill Clinton to examine Puerto Rico’s political status and to identify a process by which the people of Puerto Rico could express their views on the subject.  The Task Force continued to address these issues through the Administration of President George Bush.  President Barack Obama expanded the Task Force’s scope and directed it to recommend policies to promote job creation, education, health care, clean energy, and economic development on the island.  The Task Force published its report and recommendations to the President and Congress in March of 2011, and its efforts to implement the recommendations continue today.

SECRETARY KERRY MAKES REMARKS WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MINH

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT  

Remarks With Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh Before Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Benjamin Franklin Room

Washington, DC

October 2, 2014

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Well, good morning, everybody. It’s my distinct pleasure to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who I have known for many, many years. I first met him when he was a student in Boston at Tufts University, Fletcher, and we’ve seen each other many times since in my journeys to Vietnam and in his work over here.

It’s fair to say that in the first year of our comprehensive partnership, we have now made significant progress on the civilian 123 nuclear program, on the Proliferation Security Agreement, as well as on economic and other issues that are important to both of our countries.

And we still have things that we’re working on. One of the things that we want to try to conclude is the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and Vietnam is working very hard with us in order to be able to do that. We continue to talk about issues in the bilateral relationship – human rights, economic development, private company ability to be able to do business. These are all important things. And I look forward to a good discussion today, and I’m delighted to welcome Pham Binh Minh here to have this dialogue.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MINH: Thank you very much.

SECRETARY KERRY: Want to say anything?

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MINH: Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for inviting me to visit officially the United States. Since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership, we have recorded many achievements in all fields – economic, political, security, defense, and other areas.

So I come to United States today to meet and to work with U.S. colleagues to review the bilateral relations between the two countries. I’m looking forward to have the fruitful discussions on bilateral issues, how to deepen our relation, and also discuss the regional and international issues of our mutual interest. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, sir, very much. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MINH: Thank you.

REMARKS: SECRETARY KERRY WITH AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON DR. DLAMINI-ZUMA

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks With African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Dlamini-Zuma Before Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

August 5, 2014

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SECRETARY KERRY: Let me just say to everybody that it’s a huge pleasure for me to welcome Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, who is the chairperson of the African Union. And it’s fair to say that the United States has a very special relationship with the African Union that we respect and appreciate enormously – in fact, so much so that we are the only – we are one of only two countries that have sent a U.S. mission to the African Union outside of Africa, African countries themselves. So we’re proud of that. We’re proud of the work we’re doing to develop democracy, to work on economic development, on human rights, on security. And this has just been an essential value added to our ability to be able to find cooperative channels to deal with crises, to bring people together, to convene, and to help chart a path forward.
So Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, I’m really pleased to see you. Thank you. And I was very appreciative of your comments a moment ago about the energy and the sense you feel from this conference that you see Africa being treated as an entity and here as Africa, which I gather makes a difference to you.

CHAIRPERSON DLAMINI-ZUMA: Yes, I think it does, because I think to some extent Africa is sometimes seen from the – what catches the news. But I think this week, we are discussing more about the substance of Africa: what it can offer through the cooperation with the government, but more importantly, what it can offer to U.S. investors coming to Africa and what it can offer to business people who really want to get – do business in Africa; to financial markets who want the best return. I think the best return is in Africa.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, it’s proving itself now.

CHAIRPERSON DLAMINI-ZUMA: Yes.

SECRETARY KERRY: Anyway – well, thank you for being with us. We appreciate it. Thank you all very much.

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH ETIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER DESALEGN

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks With Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Before Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

August 5, 2014

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SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you all very much. I just want to welcome Prime Minister Hailemariam of Ethiopia, who has been enormously engaged with us on many different issues. And I’ve had the privilege now of visiting several times. Most recently, I was there in the spring. And we talked a lot about Ethiopia’s help, very important help, to try to move the process in Sudan and South Sudan. Particularly, Ethiopia has been a leader in bringing countries together to try to effect a ceasefire and move the parties into a negotiation. Ethiopia has also been really key to us with respect to the transition taking place in Somalia – we’re very grateful for that – and frankly, a regional leader.

In addition to that, the United States has committed some $800 million to assist with issues of economic development, education, capacity building, health, and other things. Our relationship is strong and productive, and we’re very, very grateful for their leadership most of all at a difficult time in some difficult places. Thank you, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER DESALEGN: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary of State. I think the relationship between Ethiopia and the United States is deepening, and we have been engaging ourselves in many issues. Like the Secretary said, we are working very hard on pacifying the region, which is the basis for all the engagements and economic development that take place. And peace and stability and security in the region is the pillar of our cooperation at this time.

And beyond that, I think United States and Ethiopia are working very hard to bring investors from the United States, which we have great opportunity this forum and summit, and we have been working with many U.S. companies who are interested to invest in my country. Beyond peace and stability, which is a prerequisite for investment to take place in the region, Ethiopia is also spearheading bringing investors into my country.

And we are also working on continental and global issues like the climate change and food security issues, which you mentioned yesterday. You have had a very good speech, which we go along with you to see that the climate change impact on the continent and specifically also on the Horn of Africa is a most important issue that we have to cooperate. We are also working very hard to fight terrorism and extremism, which is an important issue for all of us. And I thank you very much for your leadership on all these issues, and we are keen to work closely with you on all those issues. Thank you very much.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Prime Minister. Appreciate it. Thank you very much, everybody.

TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE  
Trans-Pacific Partnership Leaders Statement

We, the Leaders of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam, are pleased to announce today that our countries are on track to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.  Ministers and negotiators have made significant progress in recent months on all the legal texts and annexes on access to our respective goods, services, investment, financial services, government procurement, and temporary entry markets.  We have agreed that negotiators should now proceed to resolve all outstanding issues with the objective of completing this year a comprehensive and balanced, regional agreement that achieves the goals we established in Honolulu in 2011, ensures the benefits of the agreement are fully shared, and takes into account the diversity of our levels of development.

A final Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement must reflect our common vision to establish a comprehensive, next-generation model for addressing both new and traditional trade and investment issues, supporting the creation and retention of jobs and promoting economic development in our countries.  The deepest and broadest possible liberalization of trade and investment will ensure the greatest benefits for countries’ large and small manufacturers, service providers, farmers, and ranchers, as well as workers, innovators, investors, and consumers.

We see the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with its high ambition and pioneering standards for new trade disciplines, as a model for future trade agreements and a promising pathway to our APEC goal of building a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.  We are encouraged by the growing interest in this important negotiation and are engaging with other Asia-Pacific countries that express interest in the TPP regarding their possible future participation.

Stakeholders across the region have provided valuable input to TPP negotiating teams both on-site at rounds and in our respective countries.  As we work to conclude these negotiations, we will further intensify consultations with stakeholders to craft a final agreement that appropriately addresses the interests of our citizens. We look forward to review and consideration of the outcome of our work, consistent with each of our domestic processes.