Remarks at Award for Corporate Excellence Ceremony

(As prepared for delivery)

Under Secretary Larson, Assistant Secretary Wayne, my business friends and colleagues both here and in Washington, I am delighted to be part of this ceremony honoring Coca-Cola Egypt as the winner of the Secretary's Corporate Excellence Award. It shows the best of American business -- working together with a country to build its future. And I am particularly pleased to have with me Mr. Abdulgalil Bashir, Chairman of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Egypt, Coca-Cola Board member Peter Carpenter, Regional manager of Coca-Cola Egypt Justin Melvin, and some of the other key members of the Coca-Cola staff who made this all possible. I'd also like to mention Justin's predecessor, Curt Ferguson, now in Abidjan, who was a great friend of this Embassy and the American business community in Egypt.

Coca-Cola Egypt is an investor, an employer, and -- most of all -- a citizen. Coke’s efforts touch every level of society in Egypt: from adults who benefit from their literacy programs to school children who learn computer skills in Coca-Cola-funded centers, to homeless people for whom they have provided shelter. Egypt's environment benefits from Coca-Cola's clean production techniques and environmental outreach programs. Finally, the expatriate community and this Embassy have benefited enormously from its support of the American school and American community functions.

Although Secretary Powell has rightfully celebrated Coca-Cola's achievements today, I want to note that other American companies are also good corporate citizens in Egypt. One American firm sponsors de-mining activities in Egypt’s western desert; another has donated $2 million in medicine to Egypt through Project Hope over the past five years. Another U.S. firm is building ten schools a year in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. And a group of American hi-tech corporations sponsors IT training programs that have benefited thousands of Egyptians. I am proud to be associated with these and other American companies in Egypt.

Later this week, representatives from both American and Egyptian companies will join in a meeting of the U.S.-Egypt Business Council, which advises both our governments on ways to improve the business climate in and expand trade and investment opportunities between our two countries. Some members of the group are with you in Washington. I want to thank all the members for their efforts to build closer ties between our countries.

The American Embassy believes very strongly in the importance of supporting American business. Our commercial, agricultural, and economic/political sections offer advice and assistance to American exporters and investors. The economic assistance programs of our USAID mission are focused on promoting economic growth and a better business environment in Egypt. Our door is always open to help support efforts for new trade and investment in Egypt, to solve problems, or just to help you understand how to do business here.

We all benefit from terrific support from the American Chamber of Commerce, who are also attending this ceremony, both here and in the audience in Washington. AMCHAM board members traveled twice to the U.S. over the last year in "doorknock" campaigns to emphasize the strong and important ties that bind Egypt and the U.S. -- ties that are crucial to peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond.

Now I am proud to introduce Mr. Abdulgalil Bashir, Chairman of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Egypt. Mr. Bashir.