Published 10-14-08
Submitted by Aspen Institute
Washington, DC -- October 14, 2008 -- Building on the staggering success of the Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem last May, which led to an historic investment of more than $1.4 billion in Palestinian businesses, the US-Palestinian Partnership (UPP) and the US Chamber of Commerce today hosted US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and other leading diplomats at the Palestinian Business and Investment Forum. During the day-long event, panelists discussed how the US private sector-both nonprofits and the business community-is uniquely situated to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the region. The event was highlighted by the announcement of millions of dollars in investments in the region by TouchStar, Cisco Systems Inc., and Intel Corp.
"Palestine is open for business!" Prime Minister Fayyad said enthusiastically before a crowd of more than 150 business leaders and entrepreneurs at the US Chamber of Commerce's Washington, DC headquarters. "Get in on the ground floor," urged PM Fayyad, who asserted that his country has not been touched by the recent economic calamities faced in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Fellow keynote speaker Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also challenged the business people in the room to "give voice and give reality to hope." Sec. Rice said that Palestine is now poised to create the kind of business economy that will steer it toward a viable and sustainable future.
"The framework for negotiating a final resolution of the conflict is before us," said Sec. Rice, who also promised to "leave no stone unturned" in her quest to create a two-state solution in the Middle East that would give Israelis a democratic partner in the region, Palestinians a free and independent country, and the region the power to build on the "potential of its people." She ended the morning by anticipating a world that can "finally put behind it this seminal conflict."
The major announcements made at the forum included:
Featured speakers included:
Video of the conference will be posted at www.uspalestinianpartnership.org.
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