U.S. Department of State

On April 26-27, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the first-ever Global Impact Economy Forum at the Department of State and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC. The Forum will bring together over 350 high-level investors, business executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, academics, and U.S. Government leaders from the White House, Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Building on the Secretary’s Economic Statecraft agenda that seeks to put economic and development issues at the center of U.S. foreign policy, the Forum will highlight how the U.S. Government can promote innovative business approaches and sustainable investments for U.S. businesses and investors abroad, mitigate the risks of doing business in emerging economies, and increase economic engagement overseas that improves the lives of those in developing nations while supporting the expansion of American business overseas.

The first day of the event will feature sessions on promoting sustainable development through innovative business strategies and high-impact investments, facilitating business opportunities for U.S. companies in emerging markets, and enabling clean energy investment and sustainable food value chains. The second day will feature sessions on creating public-private partnerships, identifying investment opportunities, and accessing finance to fund business innovations.

The following events on the first day will be open to the press:

• Opening session with remarks by Special Representative for Global Partnerships Kris Balderston (10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) – Loy Henderson Auditorium
• Keynote remarks by Secretary Clinton (10:30 a.m.) – Loy Henderson Auditorium
• Keynote interview Virgin Group LTD Chairman Sir Richard Branson and The Economist New York Bureau Chief Matthew Bishop (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) – Loy Henderson Auditorium
• Remarks by Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, U.S. Agency for International Development Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Maura O’Neill and Actor and Activist Maria Bello (5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) – Loy Henderson Auditorium

The Secretary’s remarks and the interview with Sir Richard Branson and Matthew Bishop will be livestreamed on www.state.gov. Follow the conversation on Twitter with #ImpactGPI.

Pre-set times for press covering the morning events:
- Pre-set time for video cameras: 9:00 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance lobby.
- Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 9:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance lobby.

Pre-set times for press covering the remarks in the afternoon:
- Pre-set time for video cameras: 4:00 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance lobby.
- Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 5:00 p.m. from the C Street entrance lobby.

The following events on the second day will be open to the press:

• Keynote remarks by General Wesley K. Clark (10:10 to 10:30 a.m.) – Rafik B. Hariri Building, Lohrfink Auditorium, Georgetown University
• Keynote remarks by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah (1:00 to 1:20 p.m.) – Rafik B. Hariri Building, Lohrfink Auditorium, Georgetown University

Media representatives may attend first day events upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

Press Contact:
Lorin Kavanaugh-Ulku, Global Partnership Initiative, U.S. Department of State, (202) 236- 4132.