AMBASSADOR GALT: Good morning everyone.
Chairman Liotta and members of AmCham, I appreciate the opportunity to introduce our special guest, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for China and Mongolia Alan Turley.
As I have said many times on this stage, reinvigorating the U.S.-Mongolia economic relationship is my highest priority as Ambassador. We are pursuing multiple avenues to achieve this goal: implementing the U.S.-Mongolia Transparency Agreement that was finalized earlier this year; supporting the IMF package for Mongolia; developing a second Millennium Challenge Corporation compact; bringing in U.S. Treasury advisors to provide technical assistance; and initiating collaboration between the Mongolian government and our Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to improve sanitary standards in Mongolia’s meat sector, to name just a few of our initiatives.
However, without a doubt, increasing U.S. private sector presence and partnerships with Mongolia is the most effective way to deepen our bilateral economic relationship.
I’d like to thank the AmCham for your partnership in organizing another terrific American Days Expo just a few weeks ago where 100 U.S. companies exhibited products and services to enthusiastic Mongolian audiences.
Today, you have the opportunity to hear from the person who is leading our efforts to increase U.S.-Mongolia private sector engagement from Washington. Alan and I go back many years; neither of us is a stranger to Asia or Mongolia. Indeed, Alan has just completed an action-packed week in China and Hong Kong with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and he has made Mongolia the capstone of his trip to Asia.
He can speak with authority on the evolving U.S. position on trade and commerce for this region.
On this visit to Mongolia, we have packed a lot into his tight schedule and given him a lot to think about.
He has met with the ministries of Mining and Heavy Industry, Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, and Foreign Affairs, and the General Authority for Intellectual Property and State Registration; and he has talked with business leaders from a full range of U.S. and Mongolian companies.
With these experiences in mind, Alan will set out how the United States and Mongolia are working through ongoing economic challenges to deepen and expand export and investment and enhance important bilateral policy initiatives.
With apologies that I will have to slip out by 9:15, cleverly leaving my good friend Deputy Assistant Secretary Alan Turley to answer all of your questions, I will now turn the microphone over.
