Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez's Upcoming Trip to Jordan

Let me say about the conference because we're very excited about this. The U.S.- Middle East and North Africa Trade and Investment conference that will be held in Jordan, in Oman, February 10 and 11. We have well over 200 attendees confirmed, over 12 countries represented, so really it's the first time that we've had so many countries with the U.S., with the exclusive focus being how do we work together, to do more business, create jobs, create growth and give countries in the region and other parts of the region a sense of hope for the future. And also the opportunities to promote -- not just trade with the U.S., but also interregional trade. This builds on the President's trip. As you know, he was just there not long ago and his focus -- or a good portion of his focus, not inclusively, but he also focused on the need for economic liberalization, the need to create jobs, the need to grow the economy, the need to create an expectation of prosperity which is so important not just in the Middle East but it's important everywhere in the world.

We expect trade ministers from all over the world -- I'm sorry, from these 12 countries. In some cases there'll be trade ministers, in some cases there'll be other types of ministers, but we expect cabinet-level officials to be attending, obviously business people will be there, business people from the region as well as U.S. companies from (inaudible) -- just to give you some idea -- Raytheon, Nortel, Booz Allen, IBM, Boeing, et cetera -- these are large corporations that will be there. And on the panels, on the topics there will be everything from trade policy to investing in the U.S. to how to do business with the U.S., how to tap into capital markets, so very practical, very much focused on results.

We will also have -- and this is also a new initiative, the Palestinian business representatives will be at the U.S.-Palestinian public-private partnership, which is also a new initiative that is focused on creating investment in the West Bank and through investment we create jobs, with jobs we create prosperity. So it is a wonderful opportunity to make a very positive contribution in the West Bank. And we had a meeting when this was kicked off in the White House and I could tell you there is a great deal of interest in this, so I'm looking forward to my trip and I'll turn it over to you.

QUESTION: Thank you. This is Pierre Ghanem from Al Arabiya. If I (inaudible) properly, you said at least twice that the aim is to create jobs, create growth and create hope. You stopped short of saying (inaudible).

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, I shouldn't have stopped short. (Laughter.) You know, we have seen around the world that countries that trade with each other, countries that are doing business with each other tend to have peace, that business and investment is a wonderful catalyst for peace. And if we can contribute to helping people think about how to create jobs and how to grow their business and how to start a business and how to create prosperity then they're thinking about something other than non-peaceful activity. So there's no question about it that business and growth and jobs and prosperity and investment contribute tremendously to peace.

QUESTION: If I may ask again is how much linked the present approach to the Middle East to the wealth that some countries in the area are getting from the oil price?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, there has always been a wide range of per capita incomes in the area. But, you know, we are interested in doing business and having closer business ties with the whole world. We were interested in doing business when oil was at $30 a barrel and we're just as today, I mean, many of the free trade agreements were put in place -- Jordan was put in place in 2001, many of the others were put in place over the last several years. The President had a vision -- announced a vision for a Middle East free trade area by 2013 several years ago, so you know, this -- if oil declines in price we will continue to be interested in helping those economies grow and prosper.

QUESTION: Samir Nader with Radio Sawa. How much did he achieve in your judgment for -- I mean, how much did he achieve in his vision to create Middle East free trade area by 2016?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, during the President's time in office, we've had more free trade agreements signed and implemented than the sum total of all the administrations that came before him. So we only had a free trade agreement with Israel when he took over. Today, we have Jordan. We have Bahrain. I have a list here.

QUESTION: Morocco?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Morocco and we have Oman, which is - you know, just ready to be implemented, so - you know, that's quite a step forward and I think a good foundation to continue toward (inaudible) of the Middle East free trade area. I believe that the countries with which we have a free trade agreement add up to about 16 percent of the GDP of the region. Is that right? So I think it's been a very positive start and a very positive step toward that 2013 goal.

QUESTION: Am I right in saying - I'm (inaudible). Am I right in saying that the initiative of creating a free zone area (inaudible) area by 2013 was part of the overall vision of the Administration to make a more peaceful area, was it - like the one that was like, I believe, announced by the (inaudible)?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: I believe so. The President has always been a firm believer that business and commerce are a link to friendship and partnerships and peace, so wherever you can have more commerce and more investment, that leads to peace. So this was announced as a way of fostering that in the Middle East, that 2013 vision.

QUESTION: Assem Kamal with Al Ahram. A brief follow-up. I would ask about the (inaudible). What does it mean (inaudible) between the United States and Egypt to achieve this (inaudible)?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: You know, the free trade agreement with Egypt, at some point, it will be a great opportunity for both countries. I believe it's a matter of having the right conditions for both parties and a free trade agreement - it requires a tremendous commitment and has to become a tremendous priority for both parties. And I don't believe that those two things have been aligned. And I will be meeting my counterparts from Egypt. I have a very good relationship with Minister Rashid. I have met with most of their cabinet a number of times. And it's just a matter of getting the right time. It's a matter of having the negotiations be at a time when both sides are totally aligned and that - I'm sure it will come to that.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Joe Macaron from Kuwait News Agency. I just want to follow up (inaudible) about the role (inaudible) discussions with Libya and Kuwait. (Inaudible) and what happened with will be (inaudible) with Kuwait and what happened with the discussion with the Libyan (inaudible)?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, the Libyan Minister was with me several months ago. Our Deputy Secretary went to Libya last year. So we are reigniting a relationship, restarting a relationship. And it's probably a bit too early to think about a free trade agreement, although the more we get experience with each other, the more we are able to liberalize the economies. That will lead to a free trade agreement. The interesting thing about Libya is that it is from a small base, but our trade with Libya is the fastest-growing in the world. So again, from a small base, but we are off to a great start.

QUESTION: What about Kuwait?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, Kuwait is - I mean, we do more business with Kuwait. We do - we've had a longer standing relationship with Kuwait. Again, it's a matter of having the conditions in place for an FTA and they may not- we haven't started discussions at this point, but it really does come down to a matter of time and a matter of - you know, when we feel the time is right.

Kuwait is - let me just give you some - yeah, let me just give you some - and Kuwait is - you know, it is the - it is the highest per capita income - second highest per capita income in the region. So we have an extensive business relationship with Kuwait and it's a matter of finding, again, the time when they want a free trade agreement and it lines up with our priorities and we can dedicate a substantial amount of time to get the free trade agreement. That hasn't happened now. We're not announcing a free trade agreement with Kuwait, but Kuwait is such an important business partner and such an important ally that I can see our commercial relationship strengthening and building.

Yeah.

QUESTION: How much Iran will get in the way of promoting reform and business (inaudible) the region?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Well, in terms of --

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: In terms of business, I can't point to where they are standing in the way of business - to the extent that their actions generate business reactions, whether it be sanctions or whether it be a lack of stability. Indirectly, that absolutely has an impact on business and - you know, and anything - anything that causes the region to be destabilized, anything that causes unnatural business relationships such as sanctions, anything that doesn't contribute to a positive environment, you could - you know, you could classify as a hindrance.

MODERATOR: We have time for one more question; two if they're brief questions.

(Laughter.)

Who wanted to follow up?

QUESTION: What would you like the ordinary person in the Middle East to -- what kind of perception would you like (inaudible) and your visit (inaudible)? I mean, this (inaudible). I mean, what should we (inaudible) and what impression?

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: I would like the ordinary citizens of these countries in the Middle East to know that we want to know more about their life. We want to know more about their aspirations. We are truly interested in knowing more about them and we hope that they're interested in knowing more about us, that we have a great deal of respect for the people who live in the Middle East, that we believe that we have tremendous opportunities, that we can do so much good for both countries, for each other.

We can make life better for families. We can make life better for society. We can create better paying jobs. We can ensure that with those better paying jobs, families live better, children have a better opportunity to get a longer and better education. Prosperity is a wonderful thing and our interest is in helping the Middle East achieve their rightful place in the world which we believe is one of partnership, trade, prosperity. There's a lot - there's a lot of talent in the Middle East, as we all know, and it's a matter of creating the environment so that talent can be put to work for those societies' benefit.

MODERATOR: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much. Thank you very much. We'll make sure that you get the transcript as soon as we have it available.

SECRETARY GUTIERREZ: Thank you.