[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1844-E1845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHARLES E. COBB, JR. AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I had the distinct pleasure of participating 
and helping to select this year's recipients of the annual Charles E. 
Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development. The 
award recognizes both an Ambassador and non-Ambassador

[[Page E1845]]

who are the most innovative and successful in developing trade and 
promoting exports for the United States. The recipients of the award 
each receive a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $5,000. 
Along with Alan Larson, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business 
and Agricultural Affairs, I would like to bring your attention to the 
exemplary work of these career Department of State employees:

           American Diplomats: Business Is Their ``Business''

       Shortly after arriving in Cotonou, U.S. Ambassador Pamela 
     Bridgewater, began exploring with the President of Benin ways 
     in which an American company could resolve the challenges 
     faced by a major U.S. telecommunication investment in this 
     small West African country. In Poland, Ambassador Chris Hill 
     used strong personal relationships with senior Polish 
     government decisionmakers, including the Prime Minister, to 
     assist a U.S. company win a multi-million dollar contract to 
     privatize a Polish defense industry. Ian Campbell, an 
     economic officer in Jordan is helping in the formation of a 
     business-government steering committee that will implement 
     the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. And Laura Byergo has 
     turned the American Mongolia Business Group in Ulaan Baatar 
     into an effective vehicle for improving the business climate 
     there and increasing American exports.
       What these diplomats--and hundreds like them--have in 
     common is their understanding that advancing opportunities 
     overseas for American business is central to maintaining our 
     nation's economic prosperity and national security. Exports 
     accounted for more than one quarter of our economic growth 
     during the past decade; they currently support an estimated 
     12 million highpaying jobs.
       American diplomats have made business their ``business.'' 
     Support for U.S. business is now a central feature of the 
     work of our 150-plus posts worldwide. Business executives, 
     who only a decade ago shied away from contacting American 
     missions about their business problems, know that if help is 
     needed--with a contract, a tender, access to local government 
     officials--U.S. diplomatic missions abroad are prepared to 
     assist. Ambassadors today often spend 30 to 60 percent of 
     their time on commercial issues; their doors and those of 
     their staff are open to companies that provide jobs for 
     American workers and they are working hard to assist them in 
     promoting the export of our country's goods and services.
       To add momentum to this sea-change in the work of American 
     diplomats, Charles Cobb Jr., former Ambassador to Iceland, 
     established an annual award in 1991 to recognize two 
     individuals at posts abroad--an Ambassador and a non-
     Ambassador--for their success in developing trade and 
     promoting exports. Along with several other government 
     officials and U.S. business executives, we were privileged to 
     participate in reviewing an impressive list of nominees and 
     deciding on the recipients of this year's award.
       Ambassador Bridgewater in Benin and Ms. Byergo in Mongolia 
     were this year's recipients in recognition of their energy, 
     imagination, initiative and leadership on the business front. 
     Ambassador Bridgewater was cited for championing American 
     investments in Benin and for working tirelessly to promote 
     the benefits of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), 
     a U.S. law passed in 2000 that promotes trade and development 
     in sub-Saharan Africa. On that score, she identified sectors 
     of Benin's economy best positioned to benefit from AGOA 
     provisions. With AGOA, we have an opportunity to go beyond 
     traditional development assistance and give all of the 
     countries of sub-Saharan Africa, no matter how small or how 
     poor, an opportunity to avail themselves of trade incentives 
     if they pursue economic reform and move toward democracy and 
     good governance.
       Ms. Byergo improved the business environment for American 
     products in Mongolia by persuading the government of Mongolia 
     to act upon the recommendations for change made by U.S. 
     business executives. Her ``Open Government Initiative'' 
     brought U.S. business and Mongolian govenment officials 
     together to address specific problems such as taxation 
     policy.
       Others nominated for the award this year were praised for 
     working with business to cut through bureaucratic red tape, 
     improve the regulatory environment, reduce high tariffs, 
     encourage privatization, and combat corruption. These efforts 
     to push the envelope on economic policy often translated into 
     greater transparency and business opportunities.
       Past winners of the Cobb Award continue to distinguish 
     themselves in government service and with the business 
     community, including Richard Boucher, the Secretary of 
     State's spokesman; Beth Jones, Assistant Secretary for 
     European and Eurasian Affairs; and John Wolf, Assistant 
     Secretary for Nonproliferation.
       The commercial advocacy of American diplomats ensures that 
     what we have won for American business and American workers 
     at the negotiating table--in bilateral and free trade 
     agreements, regional trade compacts and the World Trade 
     Organization--is translated into commercial opportunities and 
     ultimately business contracts.
       In U.S. missions large and small, wherever American 
     business sees opportunity and needs assistance in winning a 
     fair market share, our diplomats are there to help. Their 
     work is key not just to our own future, but to the welfare of 
     others in the world community as well.

     

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