Ambassador Spratlen's Remarks for CAFMI Global Entrepreneurship Conference

November 14, 2011

Саламатсыздарбы. First of all I would like to say a special word of admiration to the Kyrgyz People and word of appreciation to word of admiration to Kyrgyz people and a word of appreciation on behalf of the American people to President Otunbayeva.  Through her leadership, the Kyrgyz Republic continues to be a model for the democratic development in the region, with a successful transition to a parliamentary democracy and the first peaceful transfer of presidential power in the coming weeks.  The Kyrgyz Republic can be justifiably proud of these achievements, as both President Obama and Secretary Clinton said in their statements following the election.  And I understand Central Election Commission has officially confirmed the results

To consolidate these gains, however, and to achieve the peace and stability that the Kyrgyz public desires and deserves, peace and stability must be paired with economic development and prosperity.  Entrepreneurs are the engine of that effort. 

I hope that the new government that comes in will attach high priority to creating better conditions for domestic entrepreneurs as well as foreign direct investors.  These conditions include:  access to capital at competitive rates, reliable infrastructure, access to markets, clear regulations for licenses, taxes and the workforce, acceptance of the idea of profit going to the risk taker, fair dispute resolution processes and freedom from the burdens of corruption and red tape.  That a long list, but it’s extremely important. 

The United States is prepared to help and I would like to say a word about American support for better business conditions and entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan.  The U.S. government, through our embassy, continues to support efforts of the Kyrgyz government to create a better business climate through our many USAID programs, such as Local Development Program, as well as participation in initiatives such as the Central Asia Trade Forum held in August.  We applaud for entrepreneurs working together to share best practices and strengthen networks of people who want entrepreneurship to grow in Kyrgyzstan. 

I just want to say a word of example of why entrepreneurs are so important. So let me also say a word about business impact.  Entrepreneurs are powerful people.  From a single idea and with only a little money, entrepreneurs can create amazing dreams and transformations to supply consumer needs and wants.  I just want to say a word about the city that I grew up, in a part of my childhood, the Washington State on the West Coast of America.  I can attest that the Seattle, Washington of my childhood and the Seattle, Washington of today are two completely different cities.  The Seattle of the past was a quiet company town whose fortunes rose and fell with the fate of one company:  the Boeing Corporation that designs planes that now fly in and out at Transit Centre Manas.

Now, thanks to a welcoming business climate, bold leadership and good ideas, Seattle has been transformed into a prosperous, dynamic and fully diversified metropolis.  The difference is entrepreneurship and the growth of companies like Microsoft and Amazon.com.  they have started small, but, grew and helped others develop.  Their visionary founders truly are global entrepreneurs.

Kyrgyzstan has not yet created its own Bill Gates or Jeff Bozos but I hope it will.  The talent, energy and desire are here.  It’s those business conditions that need to improve. 

As important as entrepreneurship is inside of Kyrgyzstan, what happens in the larger region also affects the prosperity of the country.  Secretary Clinton has been advocating the vision of a “New Silk Road” that would create “an international web and network of economic and transit connections” to bring prosperity and stability to Central and South Asia.  The vision was discussed by the nations of the region in Istanbul on November 2 and we hope to see many new and exciting proposals coming out of that effort.

Unfortunately, a great many challenges remain:  Secretary Clinton recently spoke of a need to improve transportation and energy infrastructure, upgrade facilities at border crossings, and remove bureaucratic impediments to the free flow of goods and people.

Fortunately, in the Kyrgyz Republic, we have already begun that work, in cooperation with local businesses and the Kyrgyz government.  We want to see a business environment that promotes entrepreneurship and promotes U.S. and other foreign direct investment. 

The United States Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce recently held a roundtable with business and non-government organization leaders to identify what remains to be done.  And of course we will work together to accomplish those goals.

I also encourage entrepreneurs to explore the potential for selling products from the United States in the Kyrgyz Republic.  I believe that there are good opportunities out there for strong entrepreneurs that identify the right products to import from the United States.   

Ladies and gentlemen, as I close, I want to affirm America’s support for entrepreneurship, thank you for your attention and thank CAFMI for putting together this important event.

Thank you!  Спасибо!  ЧОН РАХМАТ!