Video: Hillary Clinton Presents 14th Annual ACE Awards

Remarks at the 14th Annual Award for Corporate Excellence

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Benjamin Franklin Room

Washington, DC

November 28, 2012

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SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, and welcome to the State Department. And here in the Diplomatic Rooms, in a room named for Ben Franklin, we have many events throughout the course of the year, but I like to think that Mr. Franklin would find this one especially important because of his commitment to innovation and all that can spring from good businesses doing good work. I want to thank Under Secretary Hormats. Bob is a great champion for American businesses and has been my partner in the economic statecraft agenda to shore up America’s leadership around the world. I also want to thank Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez, who is a terrific leader for our Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and all who serve with them. Because as Bob said, we’ve made a concerted effort to put what we call economic statecraft at the center of American foreign policy, and I’ve been privileged to lead that effort and to explain it and work on it throughout the world.
I also have noticed some members of Congress here. I see Senator Blumenthal coming in. Dick, we’re glad to see you. Thank you very much for joining us. And also Congresswoman Lois Capps, who I have seen. Are there other members of Congress that I’m not catching? So I want to thank you for your support for the State Department and certainly your support for these two companies.
Not only are we here in Washington, but I want to say good afternoon to everyone who’s joining us by video from Rwanda, and good evening to everyone joining us from Vietnam. (Laughter.) We’re grateful to have you here to honor two exceptional companies that are giving back to the communities where they do business.
Before we present the awards, I want to say just a few words about the importance of this award and the work that it is honoring. Now, in today’s global economy, corporations of all sizes have more influence than ever on global affairs, especially on growth in developing and emerging economies. And I’ll be very candid; that influence can be positive or it can be negative. And we spend a lot of time and effort here at the State Department monitoring and addressing that small minority of companies that, unfortunately, exploit workers, degrade the environment, do not support American values, and, unfortunately, come to our attention.
But that is a very small minority, because so many – in fact, the vast majority of American businesses – have a very positive story about how they deliver lifesaving medicines to the most remote areas, or stand up for human rights – not only for their employees but for the larger community, invest in and create jobs that help more people have a good income to perhaps send their children not only to primary school but beyond. It’s good for the communities where they work and it’s good for the United States, because it helps to build stronger partners who can deliver more for their own people and even help solve some of the regional and global challenges we face.
There’s another reason why businesses are so important to America’s foreign policy. Because after all, for all that we can do in the State Department to have our diplomats and development experts out there telling America’s story, most people’s impressions of our country will be shaped by our businesses. And in particular, we know that it’s how millions and millions of people find out about our values, what we really stand for, what kind of people we are. So in short, it’s critically important for the interests of our foreign policy for our American companies to operate responsibly and well.
And that brings us to our awards. And as usual, we have two winners, a small firm and a large one, which really demonstrates the range of American involvement in the global marketplace.
This year’s winner in the small and medium size category is Tea Importers, Inc., of Connecticut. And this is a wonderful classic American story. Joseph Wertheim came to this country to escape Nazi Germany, settled in Connecticut, and set up shop importing tea in 1953. By the 1960s, he was marketing tea from Rwanda, and eventually the Rwandan Government asked him to help build a factory for processing tea in a remote region of that country.
Today, that joint venture, Sorwathe, is the top single producer of tea in Rwanda. It’s an environmental leader, the first tea factory to grow organic product and introduce green technologies like waste recycling. It’s a pioneer on workers’ rights, campaigning against child labor and becoming the first private company in Rwanda to sign a collective bargaining agreement with its workers. It’s also reaching into the local community. After the horrible experience of genocide in 1994, Sorwathe produced and distributed efficient, low-cost stoves throughout the country, even teaching people how to build the stoves themselves so they could earn a little extra income.
Now, that is a great story, and it still is a family business, which is a wonderful tribute to the creators of that family, Mr. and Mrs. Wertheim. And in recognition of their accomplishments, I am pleased to present the 2012 Award for Corporate Excellent to Tea Importers, Inc., and to invite Joseph Wertheim’s son, Andrew, to accept the award and make a few remarks. Now, as Andrew comes to the podium, I’d like to invite the entire Wertheim family and the Rwandan representatives to come and stand right here to so we can really recognize all of you. And I’d like to congratulate those in Rwanda who are watching. Please welcome Andrew Wertheim. (Applause.)
MR. WERTHEIM: Madam Secretary, Ambassadors Koran and Kimonyo, Under Secretary Hormats, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am extremely proud to accept this award on behalf of Sorwathe Limited, its U.S. parent company Tea Importers, Inc., my family, and especially on behalf of the 5,242 employees of Sorwathe and the 4,573 small farmers that we support through tea production in Rwanda. (Applause.) We thank you deeply for this great and unexpected honor. We’d also like to thank Ambassador Koran and Joe Palombo, the economic commercial officer of the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda, for having nominated Sorwathe. Also, thank you to the entire ACE Selection Committee for having chosen Sorwathe to receive this award.
The story of Sorwathe, as Madam Secretary told you, began with my father, Joseph Wertheim, who unfortunately is unable to be with us today because of ill health. But it was through his vision and his drive that Sorwathe became the company that it is today. My father’s philosophy is one of community service and generosity. He believes that for a company to be truly successful, it not only needs to prosper financially but also needs to be a leader in social responsibility.
From the beginning in 1975, Sorwathe and Tea Importers believed in the importance of good corporate citizenship and improving the lives of the employees in the community in which it operates. We are truly a small business with just six employees, and our vice president Jan Shackett has been with us for more than 40 years, and she is in the audience today and I’d like to recognize her now for her long and valuable service. (Applause.)
When Sorwathe started, we brought in potable water and voluntarily repaired and maintained the roads because the local government was unable to do so. We built the schools and established a medical clinic with the aid of USAID, and in partnership with Rotary International started an adult literacy program that, for the first time, taught more than 15,000 adults how to read and write in their native language. Sorwathe is also the largest private donor to the Kigali Public Library, which opened this year, and Sorwathe’s commitment to education continues with scholarships for high school students and the funding of three new preschools.
When there was a shortage of firewood, as Madam Secretary mentioned, in 1994 following the genocide, Sorwathe, again with Rotary, produced the rocket stoves. The impact of that program was dramatic. We cut the firewood usage in the area by 70 percent. In addition, by using those stoves, the smoke that was exhausted in the old system was reduced and it gave to the health of the community by cutting down on the pollution in their homes. Sorwathe also did not want to compete for firewood with the local population, so we acquired and now maintain our own forest and are self-sufficient in fuel, and this also creates additional jobs in the community.
Sorwathe has been on the forefront of banning child labor and, as Madam Secretary mentioned, the first to sign a collective bargaining agreement with its employees. We use sustainable agricultural practices, have an organic section, we’re a participant in the Ethical Tea Partnership, and we’re certified by Rainforest Alliance. We are also fair trade certified, which means a percentage of the profits and the premiums that the farmers get are reinvested in the local community for schools, drinking water, medical insurance, among other things.
We attribute our success over these past 37 years to our corporate culture of community support, as well as close cooperation with the tea farmers. They are formed in a cooperative that is a shareholder of Sorwathe and a member of our board. They are our partners. Our success depends on their success. We work closely also with the local district and national officials to promote Rwandan tea and ensure a fair return for all stakeholders, and we wish to thank them all for their wonderful support over all these years.
We’re also very fortunate to have had the invaluable assistance of the U.S. Embassy in Kigali and the State Department here in Washington for which we are very grateful.
Last, we are fortunate to have local managers who share our commitment to corporate social responsibility. One of these managers is with us today from Sri Lanka, Mr. Cally Alles. Mr. Alice worked for us for 20 years. He identified and shepherded many of the projects for which Sorwathe is being recognized here today, and I wish to recognize him now for his outstanding commitment to the Rwandan people. (Applause.)
Tea Importers and Sorwathe are committed to maintaining the standards we have set in corporate social responsibility and stewardship and hope our efforts will serve as a model for others. Madam Secretary, thank you again for this wonderful honor and the recognition it confers on Sorwathe and its employees.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much. (Applause.) That is a wonderful story and we thank everyone who has worked to make it a reality, and particularly thank all the partners in Rwanda.
Now I’m delighted to announce the winner of the Award for Corporate Excellence in the large business category. Now, this is a real household name: Intel, and in particular, Intel’s office in Vietnam, which is a national leader in promoting education, sustainable development, and empowering women.
On education, Intel is helping to train the next generation of highly skilled workers by partnering with USAID and Arizona State University to help eight Vietnamese universities improve their science and engineering programs. Intel has also helped dozens of Vietnamese students come to the United States to study engineering. And this year, of all the students who got these scholarships, 80 percent were women. And I was able to meet some of them when I was in Vietnam some months ago.
On the environmental front, Intel has stepped up its efforts to be a good steward of Vietnam’s resources. All of Intel’s plants in the country are recycling and treating their wastewater. Intel also built the largest solar power plant in the country, which cut production of carbon dioxide by more than 221,000 kilograms a year.
Now Intel is a household name and we all use its products – I also drink tea – (laughter) – so we are delighted that we would have the CEO of this great American company here to accept the award. And I am delighted that Paul Otellini is here. He’s recently announced his retirement, but it’s wonderful to have you here accepting this award on a company that you’ve given so much to over so many years. Paul, please come up and accept the award and maybe make a few comments. (Applause.)
I can’t invite the entire Intel – (laughter) – Corporation to come up, but let’s have the people come up for the picture who were here specifically for this award. (Applause.)
MR. OTELLINI: Well, good afternoon – or good morning. Thank you so much, Secretary Clinton. It’s – I’m honored to be here aside you, and I’m glad I got to do this before I rode off into the sunset.
I’m also very happy that Bob – Under Secretary Bob Hormats is here. He’s been a great friend of Intel’s, friend of mine. He comes to the Intel Science Talent Search here in Washington every year, and we sit together and are just amazed by the brilliance of the kids that we get to recognize.
I also want to recognize Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez, and the U.S. senior official to APEC, Atul Keshap, who just told me his next posting is going to be in Vietnam. So welcome to the family.
I also see Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear here. And he’s been a great ally to every company doing business there and a great representative of our country. So thank you, Ambassador.
It’s a great honor to accept the ACE award on behalf of Intel, particularly the dedicated men and women of Intel Vietnam who have done so much to make our efforts in that country so successful. This award is particularly gratifying to Intel because it demonstrates that good business can go hand-in-hand with good corporate citizenship.
As a U.S.-based global company, Intel has long recognized the potential benefits of investing in Vietnam. We were one of the one of the earliest large companies to make a long-term investment there. In addition to our sales and marketing force, we have over 1,000 employees at Intel’s $1 billion chip assembly and test facility, the largest of its kind in our factory network.
As our presence in Vietnam has grown, so has our commitment to the communities where we live and operate. I’m proud to share that 98 percent of our employees in Vietnam volunteer in educational settings or community activities leading our company in volunteerism. Intel has long believed that a key component of any thriving high-tech industry and ecosystem is a strong, vibrant public higher education system. For several years now, Intel has been a proud partner with the USAID mission in Vietnam, Portland State, and Arizona State universities to spearhead efforts to improve educational opportunities in Vietnam. Working with eight leading Vietnamese universities, we’ve helped modernize and improve engineering programs in the country by strengthening teacher training and upgrading their curriculum. Our goal has always been to bring the country’s higher education system in line with the needs of a growing high-tech company.
We also created the Intel Vietnam Study Abroad Program, an initiative that’s already sent 73 students to study overseas. Fifty-two of these students have completed their studies and now work at Intel’s facility in Vietnam. Another 21 students will finish in 2014, and upon graduation they will start their careers at Intel Vietnam. This is part of our vision.
We are also committed to helping Vietnam develop economically in an environmentally sustainable way. Today Intel Vietnam operates the country’s largest up-and-running solar power system, renewable power that offsets – as you mentioned, Madam Secretary – 221,000 kilograms of C02 emissions per year.
We don’t see these efforts as merely goodwill. We firmly believe that helping Vietnam make the transition from a primarily agricultural country to a modern, knowledge-based economy is in our best interest both as a company and as a nation. We envision Vietnam not only as a manufacturing center, but also, as it grows and prospers, as a significant potential market for products made by thousands of U.S.-based engineers and companies.
As we’ve seen before in other countries, stronger economic ties can often pave the way for closer diplomatic and political relations. We’d be incredibly proud if Intel’s expansion into Vietnam and our outreach to the Vietnamese people could play a small role in leading to a deeper, more productive understanding between our two nations.
Again, on behalf of Intel, we appreciate this award and look forward to working with the U.S. Government and our mutual interests in Vietnam. Thank you. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Paul. And again, congratulations to Intel and to the team in Vietnam. We’re happy that you could be with us virtually like this.
I want to close by thanking all of our nominees. And indeed, I really want to thank all U.S. companies that are doing well by doing good all over the world. Every American should be proud of what you are doing.
And now I will turn it back over to Under Secretary Bob Hormats, who will lead the interactive portion of today’s ceremony. Thank you all very much. (Applause.)

Video: Secretary Clinton at the ACE Awards

Remarks at the 13th Annual Award for Corporate Excellence

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Benjamin Franklin Room

Washington, DC

January 18, 2012

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SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you very much, Under Secretary Hormats. Bob has been a great leader here in the State Department on behalf of our economic activities, advocating for American companies, looking for ways to support American businesses as they grow jobs and create opportunities that benefit the United States as well as others around the world. I also want to thank Debra, who is always the driving force behind getting us organized and ready for the ACE Awards. And I want to thank all of you for joining us here in the Benjamin Franklin Room. You can see Mr. Franklin up there; I think it’s the most appropriate place for us to hold this ceremony since he was such an innovator, such an inspiration, and from the very beginning reminded us that America is about tomorrow, about what kind of future we can make together.
I want to say a special word of greetings to everyone who is joining us remotely from Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Pakistan. So I’m going to wave at you and somehow through cyberspace that will get there. Oh good, it just got there. All right. There’s always a little bit of a delay, but we are so pleased that we can have some of our colleagues from around the world as we honor two companies that have made such a difference in the countries I just mentioned.
We are honoring these two companies because they have had an exceptional impact in giving back to the communities where they do business. They are setting the highest standards for corporate social responsibility. They’re showing the world that it is indeed possible to do well by doing good.
Before I get to the moment when the names are revealed – and the tension is building, I can feel it – I just want to emphasize and maybe add just a few words to Bob’s comments, about the crucial role that American businesses play around the globe representing our country and our values. In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, corporations are key actors in international affairs. Now, we are rightly concerned here in the State Department by some of the negative aspects that we have to deal with, whether it’s environmental degradation or labor exploitation or financial speculation, but that is the minority. Unfortunately, it’s often the tail that wags the public dog and gets all of the attention.
What we are focused on here today, and what the companies we are honoring here show, is that when companies act responsibly, they can make vital contributions that benefit everyone, from spurring economic growth to promoting good governance and the rule of law, to providing humanitarian relief after natural disasters.
In fact, for many people around the world, the most direct contact they will ever have with the United States is through American businesses. Through brand names and through small companies, every size, that is doing business abroad, that’s how they learn what we stand for and who we are and what aspirations we share. So this is really important, not just to the bottom line but to our national security, our interests and our values, and the future of our global leadership.
So that’s why here at the State Department we have made it a priority to develop partnerships with the private sector that leverage the vast talents and expertise of American entrepreneurs and businesses. And under Bob’s leadership we are reorganizing our various efforts to work with and advocate for U.S. firms abroad within the Bureau of Economic and Energy and Business Affairs.
Now, the Award for Corporate Excellence represents our continuing commitment to recognize and promote global corporate social responsibility. And this year we are honoring two companies, as we do every year – one large, one small; one a household name, one that we hope will become one – that should make every American proud.
First, Sahlman Seafoods is a business that began with a single fishing boat in Florida during the Great Depression. In the 1990s, the company decided to take a chance on Nicaragua and its emerging democracy. So they built a state-of-the-art shrimp processing plant that met both high U.S. and European standards for product quality, safe working conditions, and environmental protection.
Now, they could have settled for laxer requirements, but that’s not the Sahlman way. They went above and beyond, and that’s what this award is all about. From the start, Sahlman Seafoods demonstrated a commitment to the community. They prioritized hiring local women, sponsored a soup kitchen for children, invested in nearby schools providing scholarships and uniforms. Their environmental record is especially impressive, from a company-wide campaign to reduce water usage to a mangrove reforestation project operated by employee volunteers.
Now, Sahlman Seafoods is a small company, but it’s having a big impact. It’s showing that when American businesses move to a town, quality of life improves and the community gains. So I am delighted to present the 2011 Award for Corporate Excellence to the president of Sahlman Seafoods, Marty Williams. (Applause.)
MR. WILLIAMS: Wow. (Laughter.) Shortly after Under Secretary Hormats called to tell me that we would be receiving this award, I was contacted by Tiffany Enoch in the State Department to begin making arrangements for the ceremony. At one point in the conversation, Tiffany said that their communications and media people could coordinate with our communications and media people. (Laughter.) “But Tiffany,” I said, “We don’t have any communications or media people.” (Laughter.) Sahlman Seafood is truly a small company. Tiffany assured me she would guide us through the process, and she did a wonderful job.
Madam Secretary, Under Secretary Hormats, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, I am extremely proud and humbled to accept this honor from the State Department on behalf of Sahlman Seafoods, the Sahlman family, and our subsidiary in Nicaragua.
Sahlman Seafoods is a family owned and operated shrimp company that was started in Florida in 1936, making this past year our 75th anniversary. So it is very special and that much more meaningful to receive this recognition at this time. My father-in-law, Jack Sahlman, is the son of the founder and has worked for Sahlman Seafoods for over 60 years. Jack is with us today, and I’d like to recognize him, for we certainly would not be here without his guidance and inspiration. (Applause.)
Jack has always impressed upon me the importance of being a good corporate citizen, and that advice has been the impetus for our employees in Nicaragua to expend time, effort, and energy trying to make a difference in the environment and the communities in which we work. Our employees continually prove that a company can do well and do good at the same time.
Our shrimp farm in Nicaragua is located on an island in a remote area along the northern Pacific coast. In order to protect the ecosystem and enhance the natural flora and fauna, we’ve maintained a rigid program of environmental planning and controls. We diligently protect the native red mangrove population and plant roughly 50,000 seedlings every year. Sahlman Seafoods has worked closely with the Nicaraguan Ministry for Environmental Protection to protect endangered species by creating a census of and monitoring reptiles and several species of migratory birds, and our repopulation program of several shellfish and mollusks has contributed to restoring and improving our water quality.
Sahlman created the first soil and sediment map for the local shrimp industry, which has helped to monitor the health of the local ecosystem. We also strictly adhere to a conservation program of water usage and have implemented a waste management program that allows us to recycle many materials. In an industry that is not often seen as friendly to the environment, we are very proud of operating in a sustainable manner and are constantly reminded that not only can a shrimp farm exist without causing damage to the surrounding area, but can also thrive.
Many people in this area have no electricity or running water and live well below the poverty line. Most have to walk miles along dusty, dirty roads to attend school, church, or visit the local clinic. After having observed the lives of the locals for several months during construction of our farm, we made a commitment to help wherever we could. This effort has been most evident at the Escuela Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, the local elementary school. Since ’96, Sahlman has donated numerous types of infrastructure to the school, including the installation of a well that serves the entire community. More recently, we’ve remodeled the preschool classrooms and provided uniforms to all the students. And to further promote education and environmental awareness, our biologists routinely make presentations to the school and invite the students to participate in activities such as planting mangrove seedlings in the area. We also provide scholarships to elementary school graduates so that they may continue with secondary education that’s not available in the nearby community.
Another project in the area which has received our support is the local health clinic. After rehabilitating the clinic facility, Sahlman recently made possible the installation of electrical power to the building. As you can imagine, this has allowed the medical professionals to provide care on a much higher level.
I’d like to take this opportunity to announce the recent formation of the Sahlman Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit entity through which Sahlman Seafoods of Nicaragua will continue to provide funds, supplies, and time to the local community. We also expect to use the foundation to solicit donations from other companies and outside sources to help with our outreach programs.
Again, thank you, Madam Secretary, for this award and for recognizing our employees in Nicaragua for their outstanding contributions to the local community. We will continue to operate our farm in a sustainable manner and to represent the U.S. through our efforts as a good corporate citizen. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, thank you very much, and I don’t think you needed a media or communications staff at all. (Laughter.) That was very inspiring.
Now, our second honoree is a real household name: Procter & Gamble. You know them for their great products that Americans use every day, but you may not be aware of their tremendous contributions that are helping to save and improve lives around the world. And today, we are highlighting the company’s work in two countries in particular, Nigeria and Pakistan.
In Nigeria, where the company has invested more than $70 million since 1999, Procter & Gamble has purified more than 2.5 million liters of water, built 10 mobile health clinics that provide free medical care, baby care tips, and health education to mothers and their children, and worked with schools to create a health program specifically for girls that reaches more than a million students each year.
And we are very proud of the work in Nigeria, and the company has done similar work in Pakistan. In fact, our ambassador to Pakistan, Ambassador Cameron Munter, is here with us today, and he can attest to just how important it is to have iconic U.S. businesses like Procter & Gamble demonstrating America’s commitment to the people of Pakistan. As Under Secretary Hormats said, it was unusual to get the same company nominated from two different continents, because that’s just I think the first time it’s happened in memory. But it says a lot about what Procter & Gamble is doing.
It’s showing in Pakistan that you can partner with both the government and the people for very positive results. They’ve partnered with Pakistani universities to train young business leaders; they’ve built a new plant that wins recognition for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility; they’ve set up a network of schools in Karachi, and they’ve supported orphanages and early childhood education programs.
After massive floods devastated Pakistan in 2010, displacing millions and creating a humanitarian crisis, Procter & Gamble rushed to offer assistance. The company provided 280 million liters of clean drinking water, delivered medicine, hygiene products, and food rations, and even washed clothes for victims of the floods.
Now, I remember the late Richard Holbrooke reporting back from Pakistani refugee camps about the impact this assistance was having. He, as I, was very concerned about the dangers of disease, such as dysentery, which threatened to take even more lives in the wake of the floods. So American diplomats worked side by side with Procter & Gamble specialists to distribute water purification packets and to help displaced Pakistanis use them effectively, even without basic supplies like the standard 10-gallon mixing jug.
Procter & Gamble stepped up when it mattered most, just as they have stepped up every single day in every single place. They have saved lives. They have eased suffering. They have showed the compassionate face of caring Americans. So I am very pleased to present this award to Procter & Gamble’s chairman, president, and CEO, Bob McDonald.
Bob. (Applause.) Thanks, Bob. I think they’re getting two awards here. This is Nigeria and this is Pakistan. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
MR. MCDONALD: Thank you, Madam Secretary. It’s quite an honor to be able to accept the State Department Award for Corporate Excellence on behalf of the employees of the Procter & Gamble Company. I would like to thank Ambassadors Munter, McCulley, and the members of the ACE selection committee for this recognition. I’d also like to thank Under Secretary Hormats, who chaired the committee. I want to thank the P&G teams in Nigeria and Pakistan, led by Manoj Kumar and Faisal Sabzwari, who are each joining us by video conference today.
P&G’s purpose as a company is to touch and improve lives now and for generations to come. Our purpose guides and inspires everything that we do. For 175 years, our purpose has focused us on finding ways to make people’s everyday lives a little better. We improve lives with our brands. We improve lives with our business growth. We improve lives with our employee programs and with our social responsibility efforts. When we improve lives, we grow our business, and by growing our business, we’re able to improve even more lives. It’s a virtuous cycle and entirely congruent with our growth strategy to improve more lives in more parts of the world more completely.
This congruence is evident in our Pakistan and Nigerian operations, for which we are being recognized today. Both countries play a key role in our developing growth strategy. This year, we celebrated our 20^th anniversary in Pakistan. Since 1991, P&G has grown to be among the top fast-moving consumer goods companies in Pakistan. We’ve introduced brands like Pampers diapers, Always feminine protection, Safeguard soap, Head & Shoulders and Pantene shampoos, which are making a difference in the lives of Pakistani consumers every single day.
Through our business growth, we’ve invested in Pakistan with new manufacturing sites and by building a strong local supply base. This has led to the creation of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly, and we’re improving the lives in the community, as Secretary Clinton mentioned, with partnerships to create schools and learning opportunities across Pakistan.
During the floods of 2010, we provided nearly 350 million liters of clean drinking water, in partnership with the United States Government through the use of P&G’s purifier of water sachets. Importantly, Pakistan is the global production hub for these lifesaving little blue packets. By transforming contaminated water into clean drinking water, these packets save lives in Pakistan and all over the world.
In Nigeria, where we’ve also been in business for 20 years, our P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program is an important part of our business as well. Today, we’ve provided over 44 million liters of clean drinking water. Our Pampers brand runs mobile clinics and hospital programs that deliver healthcare support for mothers and their babies. The mobile clinics often represent the first time either a Nigerian mother or child has seen a true health professional. This program reaches over a million and a half mothers and babies. And our Always Care Program helps keeps girls in school by providing feminine hygiene education. The program reaches over 700,000 girls every single year. This is important because, as we all know, education leads to greater opportunities and greater economic potential. Our strong Nigerian manufacturing operations allow us to bring more of our categories and products to Nigerian consumers. In fact, our business in Nigeria has tripled over the last five years.
As you can see from these examples of the outstanding work that the men and women of Procter & Gamble are doing in Nigeria and Pakistan, it is our fundamental belief that businesses can do good and do well. Everyone at P&G is proud of our contributions to make everyday life better, and we are honored by this recognition. We remain committed to touching and improving lives now and for generations to come.
Again, I would like to thank Secretary Clinton, Under Secretary Hormats, Assistant Secretaries Fernandez and Carson, Deputy Assistant Secretary McCarthy, Ambassadors Munter and McCulley, and the entire State Department. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think we’ve seen two excellent presentations by two world class American companies, and I think it just reinforces, certainly, my conviction that the American team – and by that I mean all of us, the public sector, the private sector, young, old, and in the middle and every other aspect of who we are as Americans – have what it takes to really lead the world to a better place in the 21^st century. I certainly don’t underestimate the challenges. I look out and see some of my colleagues who are working in some of the most difficult situations in the world today. But I have every reason to believe that we are all on the same journey to try to make the world a better place when we leave than when we found it, and that is certainly true for these two American businesses. Thank you all very much.
Bob. (Applause.)
UNDER SECRETARY HORMATS: Thank you very much, Madam Secretary, for graciously hosting us today, and welcome back from a very long trip. We especially appreciate your taking the time this morning after your very long voyage to West Africa to participate in this event.
This event, again, as I mentioned earlier, underlines the personal commitment by Secretary Clinton and her team in the State Department and in all of our embassies and consulates around the world to work closely with U.S. business on our common goals of enhancing growth and opportunity and human development, both here and abroad. The two companies we are honoring today are outstanding examples of American firms whose perspective and commitment has greatly enhanced the quality of life and opportunities for many, and we salute your contributions. This is certainly an impressive display of moral commitment, of commitment to social – corporate social responsibility, and to the people who work for you and work with you and work around you in all parts of the world. Because the human capital and the outreach to humanity in these countries is really, perhaps, in many cases, the greatest legacy of your businesses. Not only does it enhance profits, but it also enhances your reputation and improves the lives of generation after generation of people in the countries in which you work.
Now we enter what we call the interactive portion of this ceremony. This is where the new technologies that we have here at the State Department are called upon to link us around the world. And I’m very pleased to welcome our distinguished colleagues around the world, the companies that have engaged in the kinds of practices that we’ve heard described today, and guests who’ve been celebrating around the world via satellite.
So we’d like to start with Sahlman. First, our Charge d'Affaires Robert Downes and Jaime Garcia, processing plant manager for Sahlman Seafoods in Nigeria – in Nicaragua. And so I’d like to turn it over to both of you to make a few statements and then we will proceed with the next portion of our discussion.
So Charge Downes, this is your opportunity to chip in, and then Jaime Garcia will follow you. The floor is yours. We’re all listening and watching.
MR. DOWNES: Thank you, Mr. Under Secretary, President Williams, honored guests and distinguished colleagues. I thank you for the opportunity to be here today to recognize the corporate social responsibility demonstrated by Sahlman Seafoods in Nicaragua. Many accuse capitalism of being, in the words of American sociologist Daniel Bell, a system where man exploits man. It is my great pleasure today to introduce an executive from a company that, like many American companies in Nicaragua and around the world, gives lie to that statement. Sahlman Seafoods is a company that has taken on the work of environmental stewardship, educational support, and healthcare – not for financial gain or recognition, but it understands that good civic practices are also good business practices.
Sahlman Seafoods’ many and varied programs show the breadth of its commitment to civic responsibility in Nicaragua and, with its creation of the Sahlman Foundation, shows its corporate dedication to creating a better future for its employees and for the communities in which it does business. The Award for Corporate Excellence only underscores the work that Sahlman Seafoods has done for so many years. Sahlman, like many other U.S. companies in Nicaragua, demonstrates through its programs the importance of corporate social responsibility.
(In Spanish.) (Applause.)
It gives me great pleasure now to invite Jaime Garcia, Sahlman Seafoods’ processing plant manager, to say a few words.
MR. GARCIA: Thank you. It is a great honor…
(more)
MR. GARCIA: Thank you. It is a great honor to accept this award on behalf of Sahlman Seafood employees and community. I thank our local partners, MARENA, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and MAGFOR, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, who have been advocate our programs, as well as our own Gabriel Davila, coordinator of Sahlman Seafood Environmental Unit, whose vision and passion has led us along this fulfilling path.
I will also like to thank the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua for nominating our company, supporting our effort, and believing in our vision. We will continue our effort to deliver acceptable healthcare to the community in El Congo through better infrastructure and equipment and guarantee a brighter future for the children of Buena Vista. The preservation of the wetland in the largest red mangrove extension in the country will continue being part of Sahlman Seafood culture. Without it, our operation will not flourish.
We hope our commitment to the community, the environment, and our people will become the legacy of Sahlman Seafood, and we are confident that there is much more progress to be made. Thank you again for recognizing our effort as we strive to become better corporate citizens. Thank you. (Applause.)
UNDER SECRETARY HORMATS: Well, thank you very much. Let me just add, first of all, that the commitment that both of you have made and the ongoing efforts you’re making are truly impressive. And I also want to say that when Marty and I first talked about this, I was deeply moved not only by what you’re doing in Nicaragua and the enormous commitment and the enormous results from that commitment; I also thought that the story of the founding of the company was exceedingly moving, from one little ship, one little boat, to the company that you and your family have started and built.
And this is really a great American story, and so it was very moving to me. I told everyone else that really made my day to hear about this, because this is what America is all about. And if we cannot support and encourage our small businesses – some started with one little boat or in the basement of a house or in a small lab – our future is not as dynamic as it ought to be. And the kind of commitment you have made as a family to the values, to the company, to the people around you, is really a truly moving American story. So I just want to congratulate the company and the family.
And I also want to add a particular note for Alice, since she – I went to Tufts. She is a Tufts Jumbo, so I wanted a special shout-out to Alice and to Tufts University. (Laughter.) So why don’t you stand up, Alice, for a second? (Applause.) I couldn’t resist that.
Anyway, thank you all very much, and Marty, for your leadership – very impressive. And as I say, I talked to everyone that day about the conversation we had and what a moving story it was.
Now we turn to P&G, which is a well-known household name but also started as a small company years ago. I think we tend to forget that very big companies often started out as very small companies as well. It’s part of the American story that small companies can become big companies with global reputations. And I think that that is certainly true with Procter & Gamble.
Let me just now turn over the floor to our colleagues and our representatives of P&G in Nigeria. Consul General Joseph Stafford and Kumar – Manoj Kumar, who is the general manager of Procter & Gamble in West Africa, are both with us, and the floor is yours. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this award and the kind of work that Procter & Gamble is doing in Nigeria.
So please proceed.
MR. STAFFORD: Thank you, sir. On behalf of Ambassador McCulley and our Embassy in Abuja, I extend heartiest congratulations to Procter & Gamble, which is celebrating its 20 years in Nigeria and its commitment to socially responsible investment. I can’t think of a company more deserving of this prestigious award. Procter & Gamble has consistently demonstrated its commitment to not only provide a safe and healthy working environment for its employees, but also to strive for a better future for many young Nigerians.
In the last year alone, Procter & Gamble’s corporate social responsibility programs improved the lives of over 2.2 million Nigerian children. In cooperation with its implementing partners, Procter & Gamble has supported the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers through mobile clinics, partnered with local schools to provide innovative educational programs for teenage girls, and provided sustainable access to safe drinking water in rural and semi-urban communities through the use of water purifiers. Procter & Gamble has shown the positive impact an American company can have both in promoting growth and development and in representing the United States abroad as a corporate -- good corporate citizen.
Manoj, congratulations and over to you.
MR. KUMAR: It is a great honor to be a joint recipient of the State Department Award for Corporate Excellence. On behalf of the employees of Procter & Gamble Nigeria, I would like to thank Secretary Clinton, Under Secretary Hormats, Ambassador McCulley, representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, and members of the ACE selection committee for the recognition of our work in Nigeria.
We are very humbled by this award, especially the fact that it is focused on improving lives. This is the core of our purpose as a company and this is what leads everything we do in Nigeria. For 20 years, P&G brands continue to improve everyday life in small but meaningful ways, and many have become leading household names in Nigeria. Our business in Nigeria has tripled over the past five years, and we are expanding across Africa with Nigeria as our business hub for the entire West and Central Africa region.
These awards belong not only to us. We are very fortunate to work with strong partners who share our vision of touching and improving lives. P&G Nigeria is pleased today to highlight and celebrate our distributors, our agencies, our suppliers, and our nonprofit partners such as UNICEF, Sponsor a Child, Society for Family Health, and Adolescent Health and Information Projects. These organizations have implemented and are indeed still delivering truly excellent work that bring P&G’s purpose to life every day in Nigeria.
Together, we are providing much-needed hygiene products across Nigeria to people in remote areas who previously had no access to these products. Together, we have created over 200 new successful entrepreneurs with sustained training and marketing support in rural and semi-urban areas over the past five years. Together, we have provided over 30 billion liters of safe drinking water in Nigeria. Together still, we have provided over 7.5 million tetanus vaccines to mothers and their babies in Nigeria. And together, we are touching the lives of over 2 million children in Nigeria every year through our Always Care Hygiene Puberty Education Program for Girls, our Pampers Baby Care Hospital Program, our mobile clinics, and our Building Future Orphanage Programs.
Let me use this opportunity to again thank Ambassador McCulley, Consul General Mr. Joseph Stafford, and their teams in Nigeria, specifically the Economic Counselor Mr. Perry Ball for all the support to P&G working with the Nigerian Government to create a conducive business environment, the Commercial Counselor Miss Rebecca Armand, and Economic Officer Mr. Robert Folley, for staying so close to us. Without a successful business in Nigeria, none of this would have been possible.
This work is all about improving lives. Thank you once again for this recognition. (Applause.)
MR. STAFFORD: Thank you very much, Manoj. Mr. Under Secretary, back to you, sir.
UNDER SECRETARY HORMATS: Thank you very much, Consul General Stafford and Mr. Kumar. And I very much appreciate your mentioning, Mr. Kumar, the excellent work that our economic team is doing. We have a large economic team around the world. We work with commercial attaches from the Commerce Department and other agencies, of course with our ambassadors and our consuls and consulate generals all around the world.
So this is really, as you’ve correctly pointed out, a team effort on the U.S. Government side, with a very strong team effort on the side of the companies that are actively engaged in doing the excellent work that you have described. This is truly a lifesaving work for many people – improving the water supply, providing clean drinking water, giving access to health and medical services to women and children, providing hygiene products, all of which support Procter & Gamble’s commitment to health. So I thank you very, very much for that and for your company’s good work.
Now I’d like to turn it over to the second area in which P&G has won an award, and that is in Pakistan. I’d like to introduce our teams participating in Karachi, Consul General William Martin and Faisal Sabzwari. This is a team that has been working together to achieve common ends, so I would now like to first of all recognize you. We also have the honor of having the American Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter here in Washington in our audience today. And Ambassador Munter, the floor is yours to talk about P&G’s efforts in Pakistan and to conduct the Pakistani portion of this process. So welcome. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR MUNTER: So, Under Secretary Hormats, to all of our distinguished guests, thank you for this opportunity. And for me here in Washington to be looking out at these fabulous achievers, my friends Bill Martin, my friend Faisal Sabzwari, who have been such an incredible force in Karachi, a city approaching 20 million people, where the needs are so great and where we in Islamabad seek the guidance from their efforts to make sure that the American-Pakistani partnership is strong and that the values that we so value, that we so want to stand for, are respected.
I’ll leave it to you, Bill, I’ll leave it to you, Faisal, to talk about the details of what you’ve achieved, but just that in my experience visiting the plant at Port Qasim, seeing the people who have worked with you, the people who you’ve prepared for the modern role that they have to play to bring a decent business climate, to bring health to Pakistan, to see the corporate citizenship that you’ve exercised, especially, as the Secretary mentioned, during the floods of 2010 when, as far as I can tell, 280 million liters of clean drinking water were delivered to 1.5 million people, where hygiene products were given to 2 million victims, and medicine to 90,000 mothers and infants, and also that you built a plant that has a model of responsible stewardship and practices in the environment, winning Pakistan’s Environmental Excellence Award at Port Qasim.
And what you were able to do was to implement upgrades in the older manufacturing facilities that reduced energy, carbon dioxide, and water footprint by 30 percent; the fact that you grow and develop the local economy in Pakistan and work with the NGOs of 60 informal schools; that you worked in the wake of the 2005 earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to build earthquake-compliant schools; to go to those SOS Children’s Villages, which we have visited Bill – you and I – to see the orphans and how this corporation, in the name of what America stands for, is able to demonstrate our commitment; and also to build ties with developing young business leaders. The lists go on and on – the work you’ve done with interns. And so I just want to thank you there in the field. I want to thank you, Mr. McDonald, and those of you who engender this kind of attitude towards business who serve as our partners.
And in those countries like Pakistan, where we seek to have a true partnership in a country like Pakistan where we are looked upon, even if sometimes critically, as those people who should live by the highest of standards, it’s you who are the people who are doing this on the ground, showing to the public in Pakistan, and indeed to the public in America, how it can be done.
So in awe of your work, I’d like to turn it over to you, Bill Martin, our Consul General in Karachi, and to you Faisal Sabzwari, the P&G country manager, for your comments. Thank you. (Applause.)
MR. MARTIN: Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador. It is a great privilege to be here to introduce Procter & Gamble’s Pakistan country manager, Faisal Sabzwari. My first contact with Procter & Gamble Pakistan was just a week after I arrived in Karachi at the onset of the catastrophic floods of 2010. I repeatedly witnessed firsthand destitute men, women, and children receiving the benefits of Procter & Gamble Pakistan’s generosity and compassion. Procter & Gamble Pakistan’s response was not a result of prodding, but clearly a result of their organic corporate ethos.
But more lasting, more profound, is Procter & Gamble Pakistan’s policy of empowerment of women in the workplace here in Pakistan. Procter & Gamble is a role model for Pakistani industry in providing opportunity, training, and upward mobility to women. Every time I visit a Procter & Gamble office or plant, it is clear that their employees, particularly the women, are imbued with an enthusiasm that comes from Procter & Gamble’s attitudes and labor management practices. Procter & Gamble Pakistan’s proactive policy to raise women’s status is paying dividends not only to the company, but more importantly, to the country.
It is an honor to introduce my good friend, Procter & Gamble’s country manager, Faisal Sabzwari. Faisal, congratulations.
MR. SABZWARI: Thank you. Thank you, Bill. Let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here to accept this unique distinction. Madam Secretary, Under Secretary Hormats, Ambassador Munter, Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Mr. Feldman, representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, and to the members of the ACE selection committee, I am greatly honored and thankful on behalf of all of us at P&G Pakistan to accept this unique honor.
Pakistan is a country with tremendous potential. And for P&G, Pakistan is a country that offers us tremendous opportunity to fulfill our purpose. At P&G Pakistan, we are inspired by a simple and powerful idea: that touching and improving lives is fundamental to growing our business. We started on this journey 20 years ago in Pakistan, and consumers have rewarded us by making brands like Always, Pampers, market leaders.
In the last 10 years, our business has grown fivefold. Our purpose inspires us in the way that we reach consumers. It has inspired us to partner with the Society of Gynecologists in Pakistan, to have 6 million conversations with school girls as they reach adulthood so that they can stay in school and realize their full potential.
It has inspired us to take doctors from the Pakistan Medical Association to neighborhoods with the Pampers Mobile Clinic that has had 5 million consultations, one-on-one, with mothers so that they can get the health and hygiene education for themselves and their babies which are otherwise not accessible to them.
And our purpose has inspired us to partner again with the Pakistan Medical Association for our Safeguard School Education Program. We know that hand washing with soap can prevent the top two syndromes that cause child mortality globally. What could be more important than our program that takes doctors to schools and educates children on health and hygiene? I am proud to report that this Safeguard School program represents the largest private sector education program in the country.
Our purpose also inspires everything that we do. The way we go to universities and have been recruiting interns, allowing them and giving them opportunity to learn, to excel, and gain employment. I was recruited by this program 15 years ago, and I am proud to report that today P&G is the number one preferred place to work in top Pakistani universities. Our Live, Learn, and Thrive corporate social responsibility program has touched 21 million to date.
You mentioned the 60 neighborhood schools that we sponsor, in addition to building three seismic-compliant schools in earthquake-affected areas. In every natural calamity that has afflicted Pakistanis, P&G has been there to provide the assistance and help that we need when we have needed it most. I’ll also mention that the Port Qasim facility that Ambassador Munter inaugurated recently has won the National Environmental Excellence Award for Best Practices and Sustainability.
To close, I would like to thank again Madam Secretary, Under Secretary Hormats, Ambassador Munter, Bill. And I would like to acknowledge the unwavering support that we have received from the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, particularly from Ambassador Munter and Consul General Martin. We are very grateful for your support.
I would like to thank again the ACE award committee for giving us this award. Receiving it inspires us to continue on our journey to touch and improve lives in Pakistan today and for generations to come. Thank you.
MR. MARTIN: Thank you very much. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR MUNTER: Thank you, Bill, thank you, Faisal, and thank you and your teams for what you’ve achieved in the field. Thank you to all of the people in Procter & Gamble around the world, but especially in Pakistan, for what you’re doing at a time when we’re defining our relationship and our partnership, and you are acting it out in the way that we’re most proud to take part with. So thank you very much, thank all of you for being here. And once again, I’d like to ask Under Secretary Hormats if he can come back to the microphone. Thank you. (Applause.)
UNDER SECRETARY HORMATS: Well, thank you very much, Ambassador Munter, Consul General Stafford, Mr. Sabzwari. We applaud Procter & Gamble’s remarkable efforts in Pakistan – your innovative mobile clinics, your commitment to humanitarian assistance, and your partnerships to provide education and build schools. Just your very simple point about teaching children to wash their hands and how that can save many lives and improve people’s health – those things have an impact on those children not just when they’re children but throughout their whole lives, their children’s children, and really have among the many, many things you do created a very remarkable legacy in Pakistan. And we very much applaud this.
I also want to again applaud Bob McDonald’s leadership. His corporate leadership of P&G has been remarkable over the years, and your vision, your sense of public commitment, your sense of social commitment has just been inspirational to people not only in P&G but in the corporate community in general. So a particular thanks to you and to your colleagues around the world who are participating in the P&G family and upholding this wonderful tradition of social responsibility and dealing with these humanitarian issues that countries from time to time face. And when they do, they need the kind of help that P&G gives.
So this brings us to the conclusion of our ceremony today. This is an honor for me, I know it was an honor for Secretary Clinton to participate, because it shows the very best of America. It shows the very best of what our companies and our people can do around the world. And at a time where there’s competition from all countries and all products and all parts of the world, we bring to the world not only excellent products, products that you produce and sell in various parts of the world, and Sahlman Seafoods has just been exemplary in the quality of your products and the quality of the business that you do and the moral leadership that you’ve provided; at P&G, the same thing.
So it’s about the quality of products and the quality of participation. But American companies bring more than that, and that is they bring heart, they bring social responsibility, they bring corporate responsibility. And this is something that all Americans can be very, very proud of. The people, the companies of the United States, represent us in remarkable ways, in ways that create a legacy for them and their products, but also enhance the reputation of the United States, the esteem in which our country is held.
You are very much our ambassadors around the world. We only have a certain number of people in the Foreign Service – the Foreign Commercial Service. We have far more people in the corporate sector around the world, and they’re the people who most citizens of Nicaragua or Pakistan or Nigeria see on a regular basis. They don’t see the people; they see the products. So this really represents a very important aspect of America’s values around the world and who we are as a people, what we stand for as a people, the values we stand for as a people.
So I commend all of you who have won these awards as demonstrating the very best of our country, and I think you all should feel very proud of what you have done, of the reputations you have developed in the countries in which you have been operating and elsewhere. And this is just a small token of your country’s gratitude to you. There are many, many more people around the world who feel the same degree of gratitude. I know the Secretary and I personally feel this, so thank you very much. You have moved us all and you have done remarkable things, and I’m sure you will continue to do so. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Awards for Corporate Excellence (ACE)

Remarks at the 12th Annual Secretary's Awards for Corporate Excellence

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Ben Franklin Room

Washington, DC

December 17, 2010

MS. MCCARTHY: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Department of State’s historic Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room, which many of you have seen before; it is truly a treasure. My name is Deborah McCarthy. I’m the principal deputy assistant secretary in the Economic Bureau, and we are part – I am part of a fantastic economic team here in the Department that supports U.S. business. We negotiate the rules of the game for trade and investment, and we promote economic growth.

Today, we are here to honor some fabulous companies that contribute to our mission through their exemplary corporate citizenship. The importance that we attach to the role of U.S. companies as global ambassadors for responsible economic growth is reflected in the Secretary’s presence here today to announce this year’s winners of the Secretary’s Award for Corporate Excellence.

I would like to introduce now Mr. Robert Hormats, our under secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs. Bob chaired the interagency principal selection committee that deliberated between 80 highly competitive submissions for this prestigious award. With a very distinguished background in both the public and the private sector, Under Secretary Hormats serves as our senior economic official, advises the Secretary on international economic policy, and covers all global economic issues as well as outreach to business.

Prior to assuming his current position, Bob had a long and very distinguished career with Goldman Sachs, but he is not a newcomer to the Department, as he previously served here as the assistant secretary for Economic Affairs. He was also deputy U.S. trade representative and a senior staff member of the International Economic Affairs Office at the National Security Council. He is a highly regarded lecturer and has written many, many publications on the global economy, debt, and monetary reform.

Now, it is my great honor to present you my boss, Mr. Robert Hormats. (Applause.)

UNDER SECRETARY HORMATS: Thank you very much for your kind introduction, Deborah. It’s a great honor to be here, and I want to welcome all of you to this ceremony for the 2010 Secretary of State’s Awards for Corporate Excellence. I am pleased that all of you could join us today for the 12^th year of this very special program which we call ACE. It is an event that we at the State Department look forward to each year because it’s a chance to showcase some of the truly good work that the American business community does daily all over the world. In a few moments, Secretary Clinton will announce this year’s winners. But first, I want to make a few remarks about the ACE Award itself.

The State Department established the ACE Award in 1999 in order to recognize the critical role that U.S. businesses play around the world in advancing good corporate citizenship and democratic principles, actions that help to create enabling environments where democracy and economic development can flourish. U.S. companies are nominated by U.S. ambassadors throughout the world. Nominations are based on achievements in areas such as innovation, responsible environmental stewardship, exemplary employment practices, and contributions to the overall growth and development of the local economy. Winners represent both multinational companies and small to medium size enterprises as well.

This year the interagency selection committee, which I am pleased to be able to chair, evaluated a record of nearly 80 ACE nominations. I want to thank the U.S. ambassadors and their country teams for their outreach to the U.S. business community, their commitment to the ACE program, and their efforts to identify the outstanding ACE nominations we received. Every one of the ACE nominees is doing important work in helping the people in their host countries to achieve a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. That’s because these companies know that operating abroad involves more than just investing in buildings and equipment. It means investing in a country’s greatest resource – its people.

I would also like to thank the members of the ACE selection committee who did such a great job in the interagency team to select both the ACE finalists and the actual winners for 2010. Our 12 ACE finalists, which I was pleased to announce in September, are U.S. companies operating throughout the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. These finalists rose to the top of a very competitive list of candidates. They are Alta Ventures in Mexico; Cisco Systems in Israel; Coca-Cola in Swaziland; Denimatrix in Guatemala; Fiji Water in Fiji; GE in India; Intel in Costa Rica; Mars, Inc. in Ghana; PepsiCo in India; Qualcomm in China; Synopsys in Armenia; and Tang Energy in China.

All these ACE finalists deserve our recognition and our thanks. Today, we have gathered to hear the announcement of the three 2010 winners and honor their achievements. As Secretary Clinton has said, investing in our common humanity through corporate social responsibility and socially responsible development are not marginal to our foreign policy, but essential to the realization of our goals. This statement speaks to what the ACE Award represents. ACE winners promote growth and prosperity in communities around the globe, leaving behind a long-term legacy with their best practices and their American optimism. Winners both past and present promote positive change through the vitality of public-private partnerships. They remind us that the best type of foreign assistance is one that helps people help themselves.

And now, it is my distinct honor and my great personal privilege to present to you the Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton. Madam Secretary. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Good morning. Thank you all very much, and it is a pleasure once again to join you here in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room for this important program. I thank Under Secretary Hormats and I thank PDAS Deborah McCarthy and everyone who worked to bring us to this point. And it is exciting, because we not only are gathered here at the State Department, but we’re also satelliting in to our counterparts, and we’re delighted to have this very important global announcement be represented here and in our partner sites – Guatemala City, Accra, and Jerusalem.

Now, we’re here to honor American companies that stand out for their efforts to improve lives around the world. Today’s three winners represent iconic American products – blue jeans, chocolate bars, and computers. (Laughter.) They also represent the best of what American business has to offer. They are generous, inventive, and effective. These companies understand there is no conflict between doing well and doing good because they do both every day. They invest in the communities where they operate to create a healthy workforce. They protect the environment to make their investment sustainable. They educate the next generation of employees, managers, and customers. They win market share, they win respect, and they prove that corporate social responsibility is not an added cost of doing business; it’s a core part of doing business right.

This matters because obviously, government knows that we cannot imagine solving global challenges alone. We are in partnerships. We’re in partnerships that can push the envelope for social innovation, unleash markets to solve problems, create opportunities that transform lives.

More people will do business with American companies and use American products than will ever meet an American diplomat, a development worker, or a soldier. Often American companies are the face America shows to the world; that’s why America is committed to adhering to the OECD standards for multinational enterprises. And it’s why the State Department not only advocates for American businesses large, medium, and small, but promotes best business practices as well.

This year, as you’ve heard, we had a record number of nominations and it’s now my great honor to call up our three winners, one at a time, to receive the 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence. Our winner in the small-to-medium size enterprise category is Denimatrix – Denimatrix of Lovett, Texas, and for its work in Guatemala. And I’m delighted that Ambassador Steven McFarland and company are enjoying us by satellite from Guatemala City, so, hello, Guatemala City. (Laughter.)

Now, the Gap – there they are, they’re all waving back – the Gap and Banana Republic chose this company as their supplier because of the jeans they make. When Denimatrix was nominated for the ACE Award, they were really touted for the exemplary care they show for their employees, their respect for the local community, and their commitment to the environment. Denimatrix supports free medical clinics and medical treatment. Employees who would only go to a doctor in case of an emergency, or in fact, never at all are now receiving preventive care, prenatal care, and regular checkups for their children.

As Denimatrix President Carlos Arias, who is here with us today, has said: “When people ask me whether this makes operations more expensive, I tell them it’s the best investment we could possibly have made. If we advance our workers’ ability to understand English and do more complex jobs, self-servingly, we’re helping ourselves.”

Well, President Arias, it could not be said better. And I am delighted to recognize this company, Denimatrix, with the 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence. I would like to ask Wallace Darneille, the CEO of Denimatrix’s parent company, to step forward. So, please, Wallace. (Applause.)

MR. DARNEILLE: Well, thank you very, very much, Madam Secretary. On behalf of our stockholders, our employees, our board of directors, our management team, many dear friends and families who have traveled a long way to be here, going through a bit of an old John Candy movie like Trains, Planes, and Automobiles with this weather – (laughter) – we thank you deeply for this award. We are very honored to be here. We’d like to also thank Ambassador McFarland in Guatemala, Under Secretary Hormats, PDAS McCarthy and Under Secretaries Carson, Feltman, Valenzuela, and members of the ACE selection committee for this great honor.

PCCA is a cooperative of cotton farmers in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. We produce about one-third of the U.S. cotton crop there. We think it is very fitting that our Demimatrix subsidiary has been honored for this award for their corporate social responsibility and their environmental stewardship, because frankly, that’s one of the things that first impressed us about Carlos Arias and his people when we went down to consider an investment in Guatemala. We could see that their commitments to their employees, to their community, and to the environment were exactly the same as ours. We could see that they shared our core values. I often say publicly that America’s farmers are the original environmentalists – no one needs to tell them to take care of their land. They know it’s their greatest single asset.

So when Carlos came to us in January 2009 with the idea that we would form the first vertically integrated supply chain all the way from cotton fields to fashion shelves, and we saw that they were people who shared our values, we thought we were dealing with people that saw that the commitment to maintaining jobs and preserving our world was important, and we founded Denimatrix.

Our farmers built a denim mill in Little Fields, Texas in 1975 to spin and weave some of their own cotton. That first step up the value chain created about 700 jobs in a small town in rural Texas and about 2,500 indirect jobs. We fought hard to preserve those jobs over the last 10 years, as 70 percent of the U.S. textile industry has disappeared. Our members’ commitment to helping sustain rural America is very strong. The formation of Denimatrix was the logical next step up that value chain, going all the way to fabric and apparel. We reopened a clothes factory, reemployed 6,000 people. In less than two years, it’s been a tremendous success story and it’s enhanced tremendously by your honor today, and we thank you very much.

As Secretary Clinton said, we believe that social responsibility and environmental stewardship are really critical to a company’s success. By providing a stable and attractive workplace, we can attract employees who want to work there, who want to stay and take pride in what they do. We do offer a broad variety of benefits for our employees and their families, including medical care, dental care, educational opportunities, and access to basic necessities. We don’t do this on a for-profit basis; we do it because it creates a work environment where they will stay and do a good job. Their productivity allows us to be competitive in a global environment. We also stress the importance of personal responsibility, of recycling, of wastewater issues, reuse of everything possible, and the importance of hygiene to health.

When our apparel customers come to visit our plant, as Secretary Clinton mentioned, one of the strongest impressions that people like Gap take away is our commitment to saving jobs and to saving the environment. This means that our commitment is a reason for them to do business, and our vertical model is really a selling point. They see a group of people who know what they’re doing, they like doing it, and they do it well. This dedication really becomes – helped us in doing business.

So this award to us says a great deal about the future as well as the past. It is a recognition of the dedication of several generations of cotton producers to doing the right thing for the present and future generations. It’s also a roadmap for success in the future when consumers will choose to buy products from companies who are socially responsible and environmentally responsible.

So on behalf of our 25,000 stockholders and about 6,000 employees, we want to thank you again for this honor. We are very humbled to be in the presence of such great companies who are all dedicated, and the winners and the nominees are all to be congratulated.

I’d like to ask Eddie Smith, our chairman of the board, and Carlos Arias, president of Denimatrix, to join us up here. Eddie is chairman of the board of our company, as well as past chairman of Cotton, Inc., a family farmer and my hero. Carlos is the president of Denimatrix who conceived this baby, carried it for nine months, gave birth to it, and nurtures it today. (Laughter.)

Thank you, again, Secretary Clinton for this great honor.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Wallace, good job. (Applause.) Well, thank you so much, and what a wonderful testimony for socially responsible investing, and I hope that it will get a very wide audience.

Now, Mars Incorporated, of McLean, Virginia, makes everything from bubblegum to rice. But the heart of its business remains a highly addictive substance – (laughter) – that many of us have struggled with over the years. Now you know I’m talking about chocolate. (Laughter.)

Mars was selected because of the company’s special relationship with the cocoa farmers of Ghana. Mars has supported the Sustainable Tree Corps and helped in developing the Cocoa Livelihoods Program to evaluate the cocoa sector of Ghana and other regions. Mars works to raise awareness of the importance of reducing child labor and protecting workers at every level of the cocoa value chain from the fields to the factories. And by 2020, Mars has committed to certify its entire cocoa supply – all 250,000 tons a year – as sustainable.

So it is my pleasure to recognize Mars Incorporated with an ACE Award, and I’d like to welcome Grant Reid, President of Mars Global Chocolate, to the stage. (Applause.)

MR. REID: Good morning. Madam Secretary, Under Secretary Hormats, Assistant Secretaries Fernandez and Carson, and distinguished guests, let me begin by saying how honored I am to accept the State Department Award for Corporate Excellence on behalf of the 65,000 associates at Mars today, as well as some of the Mars family members who are here as well.

The agricultural development work in Ghana’s cocoa sector that this award recognizes reflects Mars’s deep desire to make farming a profitable and sustainable industry for all those involved. Like other cocoa farmers around the world, Ghanaian farmers face a range of challenges, including soil depletion, aging trees, and a lack of modern agricultural training. Because of these limitations, cocoa farming is extremely difficult for many. In fact, with incomes of less than two dollars a day, many of these farmers hope their children never follow in their footsteps. With the next generation of cocoa farms and farmers at risk, the world faces a potentially a severe future cocoa shortage, not to mention a lost opportunity to make cocoa farming more profitable, sustainable, and rewarding for more than 10 million people living in rural areas of cocoa-producing countries around the world.

Mars is proud to be working alongside many others in this sector to help change the future of cocoa farmers. For more than a decade, we’ve worked with partners across geographies and industries to professionalize and intensify the agricultural practices that are the foundation of a well run, high-yield, and profitable cocoa farm. By enabling farmers to create sustainable businesses, we believe we can ensure the future of cocoa while increasing incomes and securing livelihoods for tomorrow’s farmers.

This is not easy, but we’re attacking the problem on several fronts. As we’ve learned in Indonesia, where we’ve been able to make a meaningful difference in cocoa farmers’ yields, we can encourage a greater number of high-yielding and profitable cocoa farms by researching new cultivation methods, partnering with local governments to breed and distribute high-quality plant stock, and working aggressively to establish rigorous certification standards and enabling farmers to meet these standards and sell their crops for a quality-based premium.

In addition to this on-the-ground work, Mars has devoted substantial resources to the science of cocoa, most notably in our recent work on sequencing the cocoa genome and making it publicly available. We did this to provide the scientific community with a roadmap to increasing quality and yield, and thereby improving the lives of cocoa farmers, their families, and communities all over the world.

As significantly, Mars had made a symbol – a simple but bold pledge to use only sustainable cocoa in all of our products by 2020. To achieve this goal, we have taken lessons in our investment – excuse me – programs around the world that foster innovation and agricultural science, transfer key technologies to farmers, and enable effective collaboration between them and manufacturers, governments, and NGOs. A critical element of this commitment is our efforts to unite rigorous certification standards that address farmer productivity as well as key issues, like the worst forms of child labor. We believe that successful certification must help reduce poverty as well as the social inequities it creates.

As much as all these efforts mean to us and to me personally, we are keenly aware that what we do alone will not be sufficient. To create and sustain real changes in communities where cocoa is the main economic engine, but yet chocolate remains unaffordable, we must – emphasizing the increasing need for uncommon and unprecedented collaboration between private companies, local and national governments, and civil society organization. Our vision is an industry that empowers the cocoa farmer to thrive alongside suppliers and manufacturers in a way that doesn’t happen today. We stand ready to work with anybody who shares that goal, and look forward to a day when the Ghanaian saying, “Ghana is cocoa and cocoa is Ghana,” rings as true for the farmers of tomorrow as it has for generations past.

Madam Secretary, ladies and gentleman, farmers first has been our guiding principle in all of these projects, and it is on behalf of those farmers, not only in Ghana, but around the world, that I accept this award today. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Nice job. Great, great. Thank you. (Applause.) And of course, we want to say hello to everyone in Ghana. We’re very happy you’re there participating in this. Thank you.

Now, our final ACE Award winner has a vision of corporate responsibility that shows how business can address our most difficult challenges. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate in Jerusalem have jointly nominated Cisco Systems. At a time when many companies colored the West Bank red on their maps as an economic no-go zone, Cisco saw an opportunity.

It invested $10 million in Palestinian programmers, and by including both Palestinians and Israelis on the same programming teams, Cisco has taken people and economies that are too often kept apart and reconnected them in person and in cyberspace. Today, Cisco’s leadership has inspired other American and Israeli high tech companies to recognize that the West Bank is open for business, and its youth programs teach Palestinian children English and computer skills. We are very committed in the United States Government to the economic development of the Palestinian people, so it is my particular privilege to ask Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers to accept this ACE Award for your efforts to create jobs, improve lives, and lay the groundwork for lasting peace. (Applause.)

MR. CHAMBERS: This award means a great deal to the entire family at Cisco, as I know it means to my colleagues who have also received awards today. When you look at the future of countries, and to put this in proper perspective, countries that lead in the future will have a great education system, a great infrastructure broadband, an innovative, risk-taking society, supportive government who works together in a unique environment. Madam Secretary, that’s what you’ve done at the State Department. Your leaders Bob, Deborah convey that in every way, and the state departments throughout the world often led with business to really make a difference.

I want to thank especially my team, Tae Yoo, Georgia Keekee – Zeka, I know you’re there with the entire team in Israel – for the courage that you’ve had to really bring it together. And while you think, “Does this really work, can we make a difference in business,” I want to give you a little bit of background, not just on the transaction, but how it scales and how together government and business can change the world, create middle class throughout the – all geographies in the world, and really bring peace around the world. It sounds like an impossible dream, but I believe it is within our aspirational goals.

About three years ago, I got a phone call from somebody very close to the State Department. They said, “John, you need to come to Palestine.” I said, “Do you understand there’s a lot of conflict going on there?” And she said, “This is the right move for you to make.” So I went in, over the objections of a lot of colleagues, over hesitation, met with President Abbas, and he outlined a dream for what he would like to see occur. President Peres in Israel outlined the same dream. They had come together on what was possible to really say, “If you create jobs, you create a middle class, you bring countries together.”

And at that time, we made a commitment of $10 million when it was a red zone, where most people would have said that’s the last thing you want to do. And today, I want to share with you how far that’s come. Madam Secretary, you met with seven of the CEOs from the Palestinian IT community. We started working with three of those purely as corporate social responsibility, gave them some early projects for R&D. Here we are two years later. They’ve come in on budget with quality programs, and we’re expanding it across the board. And by the way, HP, Intel, Microsoft, and others have followed.

We brought together communities that brought together the Jewish world, the Arab world, the Christian world and Nazareth – Illit Nazareth – in an open environment to be able to bring services to the population. We took our network academies to train young people to get jobs in the future, took it throughout Palestine, throughout Israel, 60,000 students now in the Middle East on these network academy programs. Together, we can change the world. USAID has been a great partner throughout. And so when you have these aspirations and dreams, it’s not just the right thing to do, as my peers said earlier; it is good for business.

I made the mistake eight years ago of telling King Abdullah of Jordan – he said, “John, if you help us in Jordan with the education system you will achieve great financial success here.” I said, “Your Majesty, I will never make money in Jordan and probably not in the entire Middle East.” That’s a lesson for all of us CEOs – never say never. (Laughter.) Fast-forward eight years. We are more profitable and the number one player in every country in the Middle East than China, or than India.

So I want to thank you, Madam Secretary, for creating this environment. The State Department truly knows how to lead with business being their partner, and on behalf of all the people at Cisco, we are honored for the award today. Thank you very, very much. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, because we are very eager to build on Cisco’s success – and I greet everyone from Jerusalem who’s here with us via satellite – I am pleased to announce the Palestinian Information and Communication Technology Capacity Building Initiative. Five U.S. companies, including Cisco, have officially committed to initiate or expand projects with Palestinian companies that work in this growing and profitable field. Under Secretary Hormats will be leading a roundtable with representatives from these companies later today. And we welcome all of our visitors who are part of the Palestinian IT initiative.

So as I conclude, I want to reiterate that corporate leadership – not just responsibility, but genuine leadership – is more important than ever. I thank these companies for reminding us that American business is about so much more than the goods we sell or the services we offer. It’s about who we are as a people, what we value, what we can accomplish together. And to all of you in Guatemala, in Ghana, in Jerusalem, congratulations and thank you for setting such an example. We want to continue making the case for the kind of American-led business interventions that do well and do good.

Thank you very much. And now, let me turn the program back over to Deborah. (Applause.)

MS. MCCARTHY: I’d like to thank the Secretary for hosting all of us today, and congratulations to all the recipients. We’re going to move now to the interactive portion of this ceremony. I’m pleased to welcome distinguished colleagues, winners, and guests who have been celebrating with us via satellite.

I’d like to start with Ambassador McFarland and Mr. Marco Cotton, Vice President for Denimatrix in Guatemala. Ambassador McFarland.

AMBASSADOR MCFARLAND: Thank you. Under Secretary Hormats, Assistant Secretary Hernandez, Assistant Secretary Valenzuela, PDAS McCarthy, Denimatrix CEO Mr. Darneille, President Arias, and here to my right, Denimatrix Vice President Mr. Cotton, it’s a real honor to be here today with representatives from Denimatrix in Guatemala to recognize the excellent work that Denimatrix is doing to promote economic development and sustainable environmental practices.

Guatemala faces a variety of challenges right now, ranging from crime and insecurity, to poverty, impunity. In all of these areas, economic development is an essential part of any solution, and the key to economic development is jobs. And in this way, companies like Denimatrix are doing much more than providing solid, stable employment for workers; they’re also providing hope for a better future in Guatemala.

Denimatrix’s work in Guatemala clearly demonstrates how free trade agreements, like CAFTA-DR, can benefit both businesses and the economy and workers. Denimatrix’s Guatemala operations support jobs both in Guatemala and in the United States, and they offer a quality product to consumers. It is a real model of a win-win relationship.

Denimatrix is a company that is committed to being a good corporate citizen. Denimatrix provides good pay and a safe and healthy work environment for its 5,000 employees. Environmental concerns are particularly important to – in Guatemala, and Denimatrix is leading the way with programs to recycle water and plastics and to reduce carbon emissions. Denimatrix also advances education, helping employees finish primary and secondary schooling, and supporting technical training for homeless Guatemalans through a partner organization. This is really, truly, cutting-edge corporate citizenship in Guatemala and a tremendous model.

Denimatrix sets an example for other companies that do business in Guatemala and around the region. Denimatrix demonstrates that corporate excellence, corporate leadership, as the Secretary just said, is not just about the bottom line, but also about improving communities and creating opportunities.

On a personal note, I would like to congratulate Denimatrix as well for supporting the American farmers, speaking as someone who lived as a boy not too far from some of those cotton fields. Denimatrix is a deserving recipient of the ACE Award. And for all their efforts, I congratulate Denimatrix and its executives and employees. And I thank everybody in the Department of State, from Secretary Clinton to all the members of the committee that evaluated the awards, and appreciate their consideration of Denimatrix.

Thank you very much, and I will now turn to the microphone over to Mr. Cotton, vice president of Denimatrix Guatemala.

MR. COTTON: Well, thank you very much, Madam Secretary and Ambassador McFarland. On behalf of our more than 5,000 associates in Guatemala, we would like to thank Secretary Clinton, Ambassador McFarland, and the members of the selection committee for the great honor, as well as the corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship, our values we have held for many years, for the dedication to our associates, families, and communities, and for – in the – and for the environment. They’re truly a core value for us. This is why we provide a network of services as part of our working environment – medical care, dental and eye care as well, access to medical supplies at a reasonable rate, dispensaries offering groceries, shoes, and meals where the Denimatrix role is simply to monitor the quality, consistency, and hygiene of the products we offer.

We believe also that education is very important, and for this reason we also offer programs in basic literacy as well as more advanced classes leading to the equivalent of a GED degree in the U.S. We also provide several training programs to be sure that our associates are well schooled in understanding and maintaining our safety programs for their own well-being.

Environmental stewardship begins with our recycling program within the plant where receptacles are placed conveniently through the facility and employees are encouraged to cycle – to recycle everything possible. Water is one of the main inputs in jeans construction due to repeated washings to achieve the desired effect. We use advanced biological treatment plants to treat our wastewater, and we are able to reuse much of it. We are only one of the few companies in this hemisphere now using waterless washers, using only ambient air as raw material and a byproduct. In Denimatrix, we believe this is the right way to run a business, and we are deeply honored that you have chosen us for this ACE Award.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

MS. MCCARTHY: Thank you, Team Guatemala. Thank you, Ambassador McFarland, Mr. Cotton. Denimatrix not only provides a tremendous service to the people and use of Guatemala, but sets, as you note, an exceptional, exceptional example in environmental stewardship.

Let us turn now to our team in Ghana, Ambassador Teitelbaum and Jeffrey Morgan, Director of Global Programs for Mars, Inc. Good morning from Washington, or midday.

AMBASSADOR TEITELBAUM: Good afternoon from Ghana, where it’s balmy and warm, let me point out.

Under Secretary Hormats, Under[1] Secretary Fernandez, Assistant Secretary Carson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary McCarthy, leaders of Mars, Inc., Denimatrix and Cisco, first of all, let me say congratulations to Mars, Inc., for winning its Secretary’s Award for Corporate Excellence.

As Jeff Morgan, the Director of Global Programs at Mars, has made very clear to me, this success wasn’t achieved alone, but in partnership with the Government of Ghana and many implementing partners. So I’d like to recognize here in Ghana the presence of the Honorable E.T. Mensah, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, and the honorable member of parliament, Charles Hodogbey, vice chairman of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare, and State Enterprises. Again, let me congratulate Mars, Inc., for winning this award in the face of stiff competition from 78 nominations from around the globe.

Mars’ corporate social responsibility programs have improved the quality of life for cocoa farmers and their families throughout Ghana. Corporate social responsibility of this kind is important, but so is doing good business, and Mars does that, too. This week, there’s been a lot of attention paid to Ghana’s newborn oil industry. But cocoa pays the bills for many, many thousands of Ghanaian families. And one day, when the supply of oil inevitably runs out, Ghana’s cocoa will still be here, and I’m betting it’ll still be the finest cocoa in the world.

Cocoa is the single largest employer of any sector in the country, and the second largest earner for Ghanaian families. And by promoting a good, strong business model here, Mars, Inc., is already playing a role in the lives of Ghana’s estimated 800,000 cocoa farmers and their families. By choosing to buy its cocoa from Ghana, Mars is creating jobs for farmers, for drivers in the transportation industry, and for workers at the ports. Every one of these jobs helps a Ghanaian farmer, driver, or shipper pay school fees for his or her children, pays the cost of healthcare and more.

Over the past three years, we’ve seen an increase in cocoa exports from Ghana to the United States, from 3,800 tons in 2007 and 2008 to a staggering 27,525 tons this past year. Mars has recognized that the well-being of cocoa-growing communities is integral to the well-being of their business. And even as Ghana deservedly celebrates this week’s flow of first oil, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians continue to earn their livelihood thanks to the success of their cocoa industry and good corporate partners like Mars, Incorporated. So Mars, congratulations once again, and thank you for your partnership with Ghanaians and for providing a solid business model that benefits the people of Ghana.

Over to you, Jeff.

MR. MORGAN: Well, thank you very much, Ambassador Teitelbaum. I also wanted to thank Secretary of State Clinton, the representatives of the Government of Ghana, and all of those here who have supported our activities in Ghana.

In his remarks, Grant Reid spoke of the need for effective partnerships to accomplish the goals of helping cocoa farmers achieve greater yield and income, and for cocoa farming communities to overcome their many challenges and become more vibrant places to live, supporting a new generation of more professional cocoa farmers. As we have learned from our efforts here in Ghana, these are challenging goals. More importantly, we have learned that to achieve a more prosperous future for cocoa farmers and their families, collaboration and partnership with a variety of people and organizations is vital.

With that in mind, let me reflect on the following. We are optimistic that a better future for cocoa farming communities is possible when partners work together. Our efforts have demonstrated that together we can improve the yields on cocoa farms, we can increase the incomes of farmers, and communities can improve their educational and health facilities, and in so doing become a much more rewarding place to live. The engagement and partnership behind this initial success, however, needs further capacity building and expansion.

I also want to reflect on the characteristics of our partnerships here in Ghana. My colleague, Allister Child, and I have been privileged to work in one of the friendliest countries in the world. So while it is true that Ghana is cocoa, Ghana is also a place where partnerships will quickly become friendships. Many of our partners are in the room today, and I want to say thank you for your determined efforts.

When I first came to Ghana, I brought along many of my American or Western practices, one of which was the desire to move things forward quickly. It didn’t take long for one of my newfound friends here to give me advice that has guided me and my colleagues to this day. It was simple, but effective. I was told that to work well in Ghana and in Africa, I needed to appreciate a wise proverb: If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together. We definitely need to travel together, as we have a long way yet to go.

So on behalf of Mars, I want to say thank you to all of you for traveling together with us. (Inaudible) and thank you. (Applause.)

MS. MCCARTHY: I must say as a comment that Mars – the speechwriting is amazing. You are gifted speakers – (laughter) – both of you gentlemen, I must say.

We will now move to our Embassy and introduce our teams participating in Jerusalem. We have Ambassador James Cunningham, our Consul General Daniel Rubinstein, and Zeka Abzuk, the senior manager for corporate affairs at Cisco.

Over to you.

AMBASSADOR CUNNINGHAM: Thank you very much and greetings to all of our friends and colleagues in Washington. It’s a pleasure to join you from Jerusalem, where we are celebrating the success of Cisco’s Corporate Social Responsibility Projects with their partners and supporters.

Let me tell you a little bit about the efforts that Cisco is taking within Israel to bring the benefits of technology and education to Israeli communities while countering social inequality. The Digital Cities Project has transformed the predominantly Jewish city of Upper Nazareth and the predominantly Arab adjoining city of Nazareth as twin digital cities. Using advanced internet technology, the project provides concrete tools to improve relations among the Jewish and Arab residents while promoting tourism, health care, education, and civil services. Net@ encourages teenagers from disadvantaged communities to become leaders the technology field through advanced technical skills and a complementary social leadership curriculum that reinforces commitment to community.

Since 2003, Net@ has graduated more than 2000 students in Israel. This program has been so successful that Cisco has used it as a model to launch another pilot program, Mediterranean Youth Technology Club, in neighboring Middle Eastern countries. And Cisco Israel’s Women Empowerment Project was developed in 2006 to promote the inclusion of more women in the ICT industry. Two pilots were established, one for Jewish women in Netanya and one for Arab women in Baqa el Garbya. Six hundred women have graduated from this program so far, and 65 percent of them have found high-quality jobs in the sector.

This will give you a sense of the power of Cisco’s commitment to improve Israeli communities. I trust that the ACE Award will only enhance their resolve to have an even greater positive impact here and around the world. I know how much we all appreciate the contribution Cisco has made to building bridges of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Now let me ask my colleague, Consul General Daniel Rubenstein, to say a few words.

MR. RUBINSTEIN: Thank you very much, Minister Cunningham. The U.S. and Cisco share the understanding that by working with both Palestinians and Israelis, good things can happen.

I’ll briefly speak on Cisco’s work on the Palestinian side. Cisco (inaudible) with Palestinian companies has directly contributed to our work with the Palestinian Authority to strengthen the economy and bolster the private sector’s competitiveness. Three Ramallah-based Palestinian companies – Exalt, Asal, and GSSI – originally began working with Cisco as part of the $10 million it pledged for corporate social responsibility. The funds provided training, equipment, and a direct communication link to Cisco Israel. The companies quickly began developing five R&D and software projects that involved real business. Cisco gave these companies the opportunity and the exposure they needed to demonstrate that Palestinian companies can compete in the global marketplace and that the Palestinian economy is open for business, as Secretary Clinton mentioned.

Cisco also worked with the Palestinian Authority to fund other projects, such as youth centers, specialized training, and most recently a venture capital fund that will focus on the Palestinian technology sector. Cisco’s work has helped create a personal connection between Israelis and Palestinians. Technology bridges the gap between Netanya and Ramallah, and provided the first positive interaction many of the young developers have ever had with their counterparts on the other side of the Green Line.

Cisco has shown the positive impact that an American company can have, both on the economic front and in defining the United States as a positive force in the world. Zeka, congratulations, and over to you. (Applause.)

MS. ABZUK: Thank you. It’s a great honor for me to be here and speak on behalf of the Cisco team.

PARTICPANT: (Inaudible.)

MS. ABZUK: It is a great honor. And first, I would like to say that we couldn’t have done this without the leadership of the Cisco CSR team (inaudible) with the CSR management team with the leadership of (inaudible) and without our partners, Israelis and Palestinians here on the ground. We started our CSR work here in Israel almost 10 years ago. And under the guidance and inspiration of the management of Cisco, it was only a natural progression to move and work – do our work of CSR also in Palestine.

So what have we learned in those few years? One of the things we’ve learned was that, after all, we Israelis and Palestinians are very similar in more than one way. First, we are two small countries – or a country and a country to be – with no natural resources. But for both of us, our best resource is our people, which could establish the best foundation for high-tech industry. We also share a similar sense of humor. We just need to remember to bring it along, because sometimes we do forget. And I just realized, we are also masters in complaining. (Laughter.)

So one of the things – I think our greatest achievement is our ability to bring the spirit of collaboration and sharing that we lead every day in Cisco and what we envision the internet to be into the reality here in the region. And my hope is really that this might contribute to making the first baby steps of a shift in the paradigm, because I think that we Israelis and Palestinians have played the zero-sum game for a little too long now.

So it hasn’t been easy. And so far, we had to hold meetings in gas stations, (inaudible) to waiting in long lines, to getting home really late after our kids’ bedtimes and sometimes also after our bedtimes, but we did manage to trust each other. We learned to trust each other and work together under a common vision.

So to you, our partners, Israeli and Palestinian, just wanted to say how grateful we are and how proud we are of the partnership that we formed with you. And to you, I would like to quote the words of a great American lady, Margaret Mead, who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

So thanks again for the celebration and the acknowledgement. And the best part of this really is the fact that tomorrow we continue to work together, because there is still a lot of work to do. Thank you. (Applause.)

MS. MCCARTHY: Thank you, Ambassador. Thank you, Consul John Rubinstein, and Ms. Abzuk.

I want to thank all our colleagues in Guatemala as well, and in Ghana, and all of you here in Washington for participating in our 12^th Annual Ace Awards with enthusiasm and vigor. As we bid farewell to our winning posts and guests overseas, I want to offer my personal congratulations for outstanding achievements. Thank you. (Applause.)