Former Ambassador Pamela Hyde Smith Speeches

Ambassador Pamela Hyde Smith's Remarks at the opening of the Joint Economic Task Force

June 19, 2003

Minister Odagiu, Minster Greceanii, Minister Timciuc, Ambassador Manoli, and fellow participants: I am pleased to see so many experts from the GOM and USG gathered here today. I believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to discuss economic, financial, and business issues of mutual interest in a frank and constructive manner. Our goal is to help re-invigorate the process of economic reform in Moldova essential to make Moldova more attractive for foreign direct investment, which will generate economic growth and prosperity.

Yesterday, I discussed business issues with Moldovan enterprises that attended a Business Outreach event sponsored by the Moldovan Export Promotion Organization and several U.S. Government agencies, including the Department of Commerce's BISNIS, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The goal of this event was to make Moldovan businesses aware of the many services these organizations can provide to facilitate trade and investment.

I believe that with a genuine commitment from both sides, the Joint Task Force will serve as an impetus to accelerate business-to-business relations between our two countries.

I encourage all of you to address directly the challenges and issues that will arise from our discussions, so that we can achieve concrete results by the next session of the Joint Economic Task Force in 2004.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today, and best wishes for a successful Task Force.