Washington, D.C. — Daniel W. Yohannes, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), took part in a panel today at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s annual conference to discuss how the U.S. Government is using “smart power” to promote American economic and security interests around the world. By helping countries with the right policies in place speed up their strategies for economic growth, MCC is a critical asset in the Obama Administration’s “smart power” toolbox.
The event, Investing in the Future: A Town Hall with Administration Leadership, focused on the U.S. Government’s use of diplomatic and development tools to foster stable trading partners and allies around the world. Mr. Yohannes discussed MCC’s efforts to help poor but well-governed countries become emerging markets that attract private investment and offer opportunity to all citizens.
“As a key tool in the President’s global development agenda, MCC works hand-in-hand with other agencies to promote America’s economic and security interests around the world,” said Mr. Yohannes, a former banker. “We choose countries where the right mix of policy reforms and infrastructure investments can set the stage for economic growth. The result is that MCC partner countries are open for business – including business with U.S. firms.”
The discussion was moderated by Ambassador Mark Green, a member of MCC’s Board of Directors. Also participating in the panel discussion were Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of USAID; Leocadia Zak, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; and Elizabeth Littlefield, president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).
In addition to Mr. Yohannes, the conference features appearances by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, General James Cartwright, and other business and development leaders from around the country.
“I believe that by focusing each and every day on earning the best rate of return on the American taxpayer investment, we are achieving significant results in the form of increased incomes for people in our partner countries, greater stability abroad, and more opportunities for business investment in some of the world’s most promising markets,” Mr. Yohannes said.
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Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. Government agency designed to work with developing countries, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth. For more information, please visit www.mcc.gov.
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