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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Friday, September 19, 2008

202-482-4883

Statement by Secretary Gutierrez after Meeting with Georgian Minister of Economic Development

WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Secretary Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today released the following statement regarding the visit of Georgian Minister of Economic Development Ekaterine Sharashidze.

“The United States is supporting Georgia’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen its economy. Georgia is a democracy with an open market that offers broad opportunities for U.S. companies, including infrastructure reconstruction.

“We look forward to working with Minister Sharashidze to expand the U.S.-Georgia trade and commercial relationship. We are committed to ensuring that the democratic and economic gains that Georgia has made over the past several years are not lost.”

Background
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce John Sullivan will host a U.S.-Georgia Business Summit on October 27, 2008, in Tbilisi, Georgia. During that week, he will also participate in a trade mission to Tbilisi certified by the Commerce Department. At the Summit, U.S. companies will be able to develop new business opportunities and learn how to participate in reconstruction projects in Georgia. Trade mission participants will receive advice and help in setting up business meetings from the mission organizers, the America-Georgia Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia.

As part of the Commerce Department efforts to encourage Georgia’s business community, Deputy Secretary Sullivan met today with a group of Georgians who participated in an “Energy Efficiency in Construction,” program administered by Commerce’s Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT). SABIT builds partnerships and provides technical assistance by training Eurasian business leaders in U.S. business practices. These training programs directly support Eurasian economic and civil society development by encouraging market-based reforms, while generating valuable export and investment opportunities for U.S. industry.