Exploration of new business opportunities in the Middle East - Sec. of State Warren Christopher; Sec. of Commerce Ronald H. Brown; Jordanian Crown Price Prince Hassan - Transcript

US Department of State Dispatch, Nov 13, 1995

Tomorrow, while Secretary Christopher is in Damascus, I will be here in Amman breaking ground on a new Sheraton ITT hotel which is not only very much needed but very much wanted here in Amman.

Just yesterday, early in the day, I was in Gaza making my third trip to Gaza within the last year and a half You have to be heartened by the tremendous amount of construction that is going on - providing housing for people and creating employment opportunities. While there with Chairman Arafat, we witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Culligan company - another American company, and a Palestinian partner for bottled water that would be distributed, not only in the West Bank and Gaza, but would be available for export as well. Also, later yesterday in Jerusalem, we participated in another signing between an American company, Mid-Atlantic, and the Israeli Electric Corporation, which is a breakthrough - the first private power generation in Israel using oil shale in order to produce energy, using new technology for that purpose.

I think what this demonstrates is the awareness of the incredible potential of this region, a potential that has not been availed yet, but a potential that is there. If anything needs to demonstrate the awareness of this potential, it is the presence of all who are participating in this summit and the positive attitude they bring to it and their understanding of its importance in relationship to the peace process itself. These opportunities are here because peace is coming and because so many of the barriers and hurdles have been overcome. There is still more to be done; that is obvious. Thanks to Secretary Christopher's hard work and his partners in the region, we are more and more confident that it will be done. But, in fact, the landscape is being set, the climate is being created to attract investment for infrastructure projects in order to build the economy and create economic opportunity and jobs for the people. That really is what this summit is all about. That is how it should be measured.

Casablanca was important because it was historic, because, for the first time, countries of the Middle East and North Africa got together to talk about matters economic, to talk about regional economic development. One of the proudest moments today, I believe, was the signing of the regional business council agreement - bringing together private sector leaders, understanding that we in government can help create vehicles - but it really is the private sector that is going to determine the economic future of this region. There is no question that the summit is off to a good start, thanks to the leadership of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.