CDA Murphy and USAID Director Shauket hosted a group of young entrepreneurs

June 14, 2012

U.S. Embassy Pristina Chargé d’Affaires Michael Murphy and USAID Mission Director Maureen A. Shauket hosted a group of young entrepreneurs to screen an episode of CNBC’s “The Entrepreneurs” and discuss the role of entrepreneurship in economic recovery.  The young entrepreneurs are beneficiaries of USAID’s Young Entrepreneurs program (http://usaidyep.org) which supports Kosovo’s new and emerging entrepreneurs, ages 18-35, with tangible micro and small business development support, including matching grants, access to credit and coaching services.

This event celebrated Global Economic Statecraft Day, a worldwide event organized by the U.S. Department of State to highlight the important economic diplomacy of U.S. diplomats and development experts around the world.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched her Economic Statecraft agenda last year, because we recognize that global leadership rests on a foundation of economic prosperity and cooperation.  As such, we are working with our foreign partners to put economics at the forefront of our foreign policy and to develop economic solutions to our shared strategic challenges.

Whether businesspeople or diplomats, American people or people of Kosovo, the interdependent global economy means we have a shared stake in prosperity.  America’s economic renewal depends on the strength of the global economy – and the global economy depends on the strength of the American economy.  One of the key tenets of U.S. foreign policy in Kosovo is the development of Kosovo’s private sector to drive the country’s economic growth.  Supporting young entrepreneurs and giving them the tools to succeed is just one of the ways in which the United States and Kosovo work together to strengthen both of our economies.

You may view Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s video message at this link: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/06/192137.htm

For photos of today’s event, please go to the U.S. Embassy web page at: http://photos.state.gov/galleries/kosovo/312585/statecraftday/