WEBVTT

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Of Commercial and Business Affairs and

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the 2024 Award for Corporate Excellence

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recipients .

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Sure .

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Mhm . Good afternoon , everybody .

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This is a day that we have been waiting

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for for a long time . Welcome to the

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25th annual ceremony for the Secretary

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of State's Award for Corporate

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Excellence . I would like to thank

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everyone for joining us today , both in

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person in the historic Benjamin

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Franklin reception room and virtually

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on our live stream from around the

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globe . The award for corporate

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Excellence has reached a milestone 25

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years of honoring us companies that

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create positive impact around the globe .

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I'm honored to be here with you to

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recognize six American companies large

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and small for their meaningful

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contributions to the categories of

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innovation , to strengthen communities ,

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women's economic security and climate

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resilience to our six winning companies .

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I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude

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and respect . I think everyone would

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agree that you exemplify the very best

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of American values in your overseas

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operations

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across the world . We are facing

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complex challenges that governments

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cannot tackle alone such as climate

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change , gender inequality and digital

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divides . Now , more than ever , it is

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critical that we leverage the strength ,

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determination and innovation of the US

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business community to reach our shared

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goals . Your work inspires us all and

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proves that through public private

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partnership and responsible business

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practices , no task is too daunting and

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with that , it is my true honor and

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pleasure to begin the ceremony by

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welcoming Acting Assistant Secretary

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for Economic and Business Affairs , Amy

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Holman .

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Thank you very much uh Sarah and thank

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you all for coming today and

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congratulations to awardee . It's so

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much fun to be here today . Um To be

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welcoming you all . This is the best

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day in E B's calendar . And so we're

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delighted to have you all here to share

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in the success of our six American

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companies who exemplify what we try in

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the Bureau of Business and Economic

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Affairs to do every day is to support

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our us businesses overseas , to do good

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things and to make us all proud here at

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home . So I'm really , really

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delighted that we're here celebrating

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our prosperity , part of our work in

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the bureau . It's also my great delight

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to welcome our deputy Secretary , Kurt

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Campbell . Kurt is amazing . He's

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worked all over the government . He's

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done dod , he's done the White House .

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He's been here twice before and now

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he's the deputy secretary and we're so

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thrilled to have him with all of his

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experience and all of his great

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thinking on China . So it's my great

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pleasure to plea and please join me in

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welcoming the 22nd Deputy Secretary of

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State of the United States , Mr Kurt

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Campbell .

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So guys , this is a first of all ,

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welcome everyone . It's great to see

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you , friends , family , everyone .

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Welcome to the Ben Franklin room . This

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is the nicest place at the State

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Department . We don't all live like

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this , but we we occasionally get to

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come up here for events . So as you're

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here , be sure to look out over the

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venue . It's a lovely day these days

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come infrequently in Washington . So

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enjoy this . So this is a true story a

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couple of weeks ago . So one of the

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great things about being the deputy is

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you get to step in at the last minute .

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And so I was meeting this family and

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they had told their Children how

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exciting it was , they're going to meet

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the Secretary of State . And so it was

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the deputy instead . And so , so one of

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the daughters was crying hysterically ,

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you know , so , so no crying among any

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of the companies today . Now , I will

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tell you those who have not met these

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companies and we're going to be in

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introduced to them in a moment . I will

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tell you they are so inspirational to

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see the good that they have done

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globally in so many different arenas is

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just really heartwarming . I will also

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say it's exciting for me . I was

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actually here 25 years ago when

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secretary then uh Albright launched

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these awards , I don't think we would

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have ever imagined . 25 years later ,

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the number of companies that we've

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honored the work that has been done ,

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the remarkable support that these

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awards have achieved . So I just , I

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want to say how grateful we are that

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you're all here . I'm sorry that it's

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not the secretary , I'll do my best .

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It's not my favorite thing either .

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Like to just constantly go around

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disappointing people but still welcome ,

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welcome most warmly to the State

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Department . Ok . So I want to thank

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acting Secretary Holman . I just say

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Secretary Holman , when all this acting

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stuff , I'm grateful to you as well as

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under secretary Fernandez who leads the

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Bureau Special Representative Morgana .

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Thank you , Sarah for everything and

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the entire team at the Bureau of

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Economic Business Affairs . And they

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drive so much of our outreach to the

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business community . Their dedication

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to boosting economic opportunities for

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these companies overseas , promoting

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workers' rights around the world and

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creating jobs back home is what we are

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all about to our guests . We have

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guests from Congress and across the

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federal government , the diplomatic

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corps and the private sector . Thank

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you for joining us today and to render

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honors to these people who have served

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with such distinction . In 1999

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Secretary Madeleine Albright

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established the State Department's

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Award for corporate excellence . It was

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a recognition that the private sector

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is probably the essential partner in so

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much of our diplomatic work . And we

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see this now more than ever in

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technology and all the arenas in which

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we work . It underscored that when

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businesses operate by the highest

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standards investing in local

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communities , upholding labor and

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environmental rights , that's good .

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Not only for a company's bottom line ,

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but for our partners and for our values

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and interests . Over 25 years , Ace has

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highlighted more than 70 businesses

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that epitomized what secretary operate

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called . Then the genius and generosity

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of American free enterprise as global

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challenges have evolved over the past

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quarter century . From the climate

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crisis to cyber threats . The need for

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robust public private co-operation has

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grown exponentially and the role of

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industry in addressing these critical

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issues . Whether that's spurring the

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clean energy transition or training

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workers for the economy of the future .

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This has become increasingly important .

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Today , we honor our 2024 cohort six

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extraordinary companies across three

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award categories that are advancing

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sustainability , equity and opportunity

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in the countries where they are

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operating . And I will say I've met all

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of them . They are remarkable . You can

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tell right off the bat that they are

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making a difference . Our first award

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cry is innovation to strengthen

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communities in West Africa . Coster Ken ,

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a 172 year old Connecticut and

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Netherlands based company has trained

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nearly 30,000 beekeepers to Harvard

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harvest beeswax . A honey by-product

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previously overlooked in the local

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economy that can be manufactured into

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products from lip balm to candles . I

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myself am a beekeeper . So I'm excited

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by this . I just normally get rid of

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the beeswax . Now , I know what to do .

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Custer Kuan has also bolstered regional

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food security in concert with

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beekeeping practices that prioritize

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biodiversity and conservation ,

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increased bee productions and

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pollination rates , raise the

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agricultural yields of key crops like

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mangoes and cashews by as much as 30%

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in Colombia Microsoft . In

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collaboration with local educational

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institutions . NGO S and Telecom

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companies has extended high speed

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internet to more than 600,000 people in

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remote , remote parts of the country .

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You just have to understand what a

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difference that has made in people's

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lives . Microsoft has also equipped

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marginalized communities with digital

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literacy skills lifting 10,000 people

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out of poverty and enabling an

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estimated 31,000 people to find jobs in

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the tech economy . Again , an

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absolutely remarkable achievement . Our

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second category is women's economic

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security as outlined last year in the

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department's first ever strategy for

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global women's economic security . The

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United States considers the full and

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equal economic participation of women ,

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not only a moral imperative but a

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strategic one . Women's economic

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inclusion promotes stability

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development and harmony in communities .

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It's estimated that closing gender ,

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gender gaps in the workforce could add

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up to $28 trillion to global GDP

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over a decade in this collective effort ,

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we're fortunate to have committed

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private sector , private sector

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partners that we're going to recognize

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today in Ethiopia , Californian Leather

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Goods Company , Parker Clay has for a

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decade employed a majority women

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workforce of local artisans , most of

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whom are survivors of human trafficking .

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That's incredible . In addition to a

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good job and good pay parker Clay has

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also offers access to vital services

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such as on-site daycare . This means

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that its employees can put food on the

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table and ensure that their Children

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can attend school . And it means that

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they can become financially secure ,

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able to breathe a bit easier , plan a

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bit farther and sleep a bit more

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soundly . In India , the Bank of

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America is working to realize gender

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parity across its ranks . The company

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has implemented inclusive recruitment

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strategies and female mentorship

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programs initiatives that have brought

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their workforce to from 24 to

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35% over the past decade . That's

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remarkable amid a nationwide decline in

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Indian women's economic participation .

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You've really stood out in recent years .

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Bank of America has also provided over

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300,000 women and girls with the

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education , the health care and the

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sanitation infrastructure necessary for

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entry to and success in the formal

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economy . Our third and final category

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is climate resilience . Since the start

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of the Biden Harris administration ,

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the United States has quadrupled

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climate financing to the developing

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nations helping more than half a

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billion people manage the destabilizing

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effects of climate change . In the

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Philippines Florida based Rhizome

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bamboo produces a more sustainable

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alternative , traditional carbon

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intensive materials like steel and wood

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and it's promoting the construction of

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environmentally conscious bamboo based

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homes globally . In partnership with

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USA ID and local indigenous tribes .

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Rozon is also helping to plant 1500

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hectare reforestation program that

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would establish a bamboo industry in

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Mindanao , an arena in the Philippines

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that desperately needs jobs in Suriname .

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Our final awardee Colorado's Newmont

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corporation has introduced highest

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environmental standards into the

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country's gold mining sector . Newmont

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has significantly reduced the potential

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for mercury pollution , water

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contamination and deforestation by

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training small scale miners in more

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sustainable mining methods . The

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corporation also institute instituted

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an advisory council but with community

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leaders from the African descent Paka

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tribe who advised Newmont on how to

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best contribute to local development

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needs from portable water , water

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systems to small business loans . So

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you get a sense of what these companies

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are about and I want all of you to join

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in giving a warm round of applause to

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all of our worries .

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And as I pass it back to Special

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Representative Morgenthal , I do want

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to just acknowledge , it's good to be

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recognized for one day , but the truth

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is what you're doing is global on a

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yearly basis and we recognize ,

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acknowledge and thank you for your work

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and we hope that it long continues .

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Thank you very much .

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Well , I think you'll all have just

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seen and witnessed uh , Deputy

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Secretary Kurt Campbell and he is

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hardly uh the B team . Um those remarks

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and your leadership is exemplary . Um

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having seen firsthand and been with him

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in the field . Uh It is hard to keep up

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with him but truly uh his uh public

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service and commitment um for so many

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uh years uh is exemplary and we are

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very fortunate to have him at the

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Department ,

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Deputy Secretary . I understand um that

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you may have to depart a little bit

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early . Uh So I just wanted uh to

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acknowledge and again , thank you . Uh

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As we celebrate the 25th anniversary ,

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we reflect on the incredible journey

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and achievements of us companies who

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have been awarded the Ace over the

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years , your work around the world

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continues to inspire us all while we

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could elaborate extensively on the

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accomplishments of these companies , it

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is perhaps best to let their work speak

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for itself at this time . Please turn

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your attention to the screen for a

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brief montage that illustrates the

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truly inspiring stories of our awardees .

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The United States is proud to recognize

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the positive impact American companies

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are making overseas since 1999 . When

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then Secretary of State Madeleine

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Albright bestowed the first Ace Awards .

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We have celebrated scores of model

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companies around the world . In my

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travels around the world . More than 75

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countries in County , I have seen the

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immense demand , the immense interest ,

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the immense attractiveness of American

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enterprise . And I've seen the American

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private sector's capacity to deliver

16:07.039 --> 16:09.261
solutions to the challenges that people

16:09.261 --> 16:11.900
most care about . And we're just

16:11.909 --> 16:14.719
getting started around the world . Us

16:14.729 --> 16:16.673
companies show that transparency ,

16:16.673 --> 16:18.979
quality , respect for rule of law and

16:18.989 --> 16:20.960
sustainability lead to broad based

16:20.969 --> 16:23.320
economic growth and success , doing

16:23.330 --> 16:26.789
well and doing good go hand in hand us

16:26.799 --> 16:28.632
embassies help American business

16:28.632 --> 16:30.521
identify opportunities , navigate

16:30.521 --> 16:32.710
foreign markets and expand overseas ,

16:33.049 --> 16:34.938
working in partnership with local

16:34.938 --> 16:36.993
communities . These companies act as

16:36.993 --> 16:38.827
ambassadors for the very best of

16:38.827 --> 16:40.827
American values and expand economic

16:40.827 --> 16:43.590
opportunities to benefit all every day

16:43.599 --> 16:46.109
in virtually every country in the world .

16:46.369 --> 16:48.929
American businesses are giving back to

16:48.940 --> 16:51.369
people , to communities and to the

16:51.380 --> 16:53.869
countries that enable them to thrive

16:54.309 --> 16:56.590
and as often as possible . I I like to

16:56.599 --> 16:58.766
say thank you to those businesses that

16:58.766 --> 17:00.900
represent our nation uh and its value

17:00.909 --> 17:02.965
so well around the world . It's what

17:02.965 --> 17:04.909
this ceremony is about today . The

17:04.909 --> 17:06.965
award for corporate excellence uh is

17:06.965 --> 17:09.380
indeed all about . We are proud to work

17:09.390 --> 17:11.334
with the US private sector to both

17:11.334 --> 17:13.390
level the playing field for American

17:13.390 --> 17:15.390
companies and model the values that

17:15.390 --> 17:16.723
help economies thrive .

17:19.550 --> 17:22.130
Join us in celebrating the good that us

17:22.140 --> 17:23.489
business can do .

17:33.260 --> 17:35.427
And now the moment that we've all been

17:35.427 --> 17:37.427
waiting for , we can begin with the

17:37.427 --> 17:39.482
presentations of the 2024 awards for

17:39.482 --> 17:41.316
corporate excellence . The first

17:41.316 --> 17:43.371
category is innovation to strengthen

17:43.371 --> 17:45.204
communities . We are proud to be

17:45.204 --> 17:47.260
recognizing two companies whose work

17:47.260 --> 17:49.427
has generated tangible positive impact

17:49.427 --> 17:51.930
in Colombia . And Togo Microsoft in

17:51.939 --> 17:54.349
Colombia is this year's first winner

17:54.550 --> 17:57.050
nominated by the US Embassy Bogota

17:57.319 --> 17:59.594
Microsoft Colombia has harness their

17:59.604 --> 18:01.604
technological tools and digital

18:01.614 --> 18:04.185
capacity to strengthen communities by

18:04.194 --> 18:06.361
connecting them to the internet and to

18:06.361 --> 18:08.194
the world , helping refine their

18:08.194 --> 18:10.361
workers skills and generating economic

18:10.361 --> 18:13.385
growth . We are delighted to have here

18:13.395 --> 18:16.175
today us charge affairs to Colombia uh

18:16.185 --> 18:18.435
Francisco Palmieri . Thank you for

18:18.444 --> 18:20.494
being here who very kindly made a

18:20.505 --> 18:22.584
congratulatory video for Microsoft .

18:22.594 --> 18:24.483
Please turn your attention to the

18:24.483 --> 18:28.089
screen secretary Blinken and

18:28.099 --> 18:30.010
distinguished guests . It is my

18:30.020 --> 18:32.770
distinct honor to congratulate

18:32.910 --> 18:35.489
Microsoft Columbia Incorporated for

18:35.500 --> 18:37.599
winning the Secretary's award for

18:37.609 --> 18:40.449
corporate excellence in the category of

18:40.459 --> 18:43.300
innovation to strengthen communities .

18:43.550 --> 18:46.479
This prestigious award is a testament

18:46.510 --> 18:49.689
to the remarkable impact that Microsoft

18:49.699 --> 18:53.219
has made in driving positive change in

18:53.229 --> 18:57.060
communities across Colombia . Microsoft

18:57.069 --> 18:59.589
Columbia has partnered with NGO S

18:59.599 --> 19:02.640
Universities , small businesses and

19:02.650 --> 19:05.250
national and local governments to

19:05.260 --> 19:08.770
expand internet connectivity , build

19:08.780 --> 19:12.109
digital skills and foster economic

19:12.119 --> 19:14.089
inclusion for Colombia's most

19:14.099 --> 19:17.170
vulnerable and underserved communities .

19:17.650 --> 19:20.520
Their work helps promote peace ,

19:20.560 --> 19:23.790
diminish Colombia's digital divide and

19:23.800 --> 19:27.359
reduce economic and social inequalities .

19:27.680 --> 19:29.630
Thank you , Microsoft for your

19:29.640 --> 19:32.199
commitment to making Colombia and the

19:32.209 --> 19:33.869
world a better place .

19:41.660 --> 19:44.079
Thank you Char Palmieri for being here

19:44.089 --> 19:46.200
with us today . It is now my honor to

19:46.200 --> 19:48.311
present Microsoft Columbia Inc with a

19:48.311 --> 19:51.400
2024 Secretary of State Award for

19:51.410 --> 19:53.577
Innovation to strengthen communities .

19:53.577 --> 19:55.869
Please join me in welcoming the General

19:55.880 --> 19:58.050
Manager of Microsoft Columbia . Uh

19:58.069 --> 20:01.130
Daniel uh Vers Sue to the stage to

20:01.140 --> 20:03.209
accept the award and offer remarks .

20:32.810 --> 20:36.599
Hello , all . Thank you , Assistant

20:36.609 --> 20:38.729
Secretary Holman and Special

20:38.739 --> 20:40.199
Representative Montano .

20:42.380 --> 20:45.339
Um members of the diplomatic services ,

20:45.349 --> 20:48.459
honor guests and colleagues . It's

20:48.469 --> 20:50.430
really immense pride and a deep

20:50.439 --> 20:52.050
gratitude that I accept this

20:52.050 --> 20:54.106
prestigious Secretary of State Award

20:54.106 --> 20:56.217
for Corporate Excellence on behalf of

20:56.217 --> 20:59.020
Microsoft Columbia , to be recognized

20:59.030 --> 21:01.252
for the impact we're making through our

21:01.252 --> 21:03.474
connectivity and skilling programs is a

21:03.474 --> 21:06.939
profound honor . This represents not

21:06.949 --> 21:09.410
only a milestone for our team but a

21:09.420 --> 21:11.859
testament to the power of collaboration ,

21:11.869 --> 21:14.739
innovation and shared commitment to

21:14.750 --> 21:17.000
building a brighter future for all

21:17.010 --> 21:20.609
Colombians at Microsoft , we

21:20.619 --> 21:23.099
believe in a world where technology is

21:23.109 --> 21:25.920
a force of good a tool that can

21:25.930 --> 21:28.689
transform lives , fuel economies and

21:28.699 --> 21:31.989
reduce inequalities . Our mission is to

21:32.000 --> 21:33.979
empower every person and every

21:33.989 --> 21:36.530
organization to achieve more and it is

21:36.540 --> 21:38.410
not only a vision , it is a

21:38.420 --> 21:41.079
responsibility as well . And we deeply

21:41.089 --> 21:43.200
feel this responsibility in Microsoft

21:43.200 --> 21:45.010
Colombia where the need for

21:45.020 --> 21:47.290
connectivity and digital skills is a

21:47.300 --> 21:50.060
great pivot pivot to unlocking the

21:50.069 --> 21:54.069
potential for so many the world we live

21:54.079 --> 21:57.109
in is increasingly defined by digital

21:57.119 --> 22:00.040
experiences . It shapes the way we work ,

22:00.050 --> 22:02.550
we learn , we communicate and live in

22:02.560 --> 22:06.250
society . But we know that for too many ,

22:06.579 --> 22:08.930
these opportunities remain a challenge .

22:09.660 --> 22:12.079
This is why we are relentless in our

22:12.089 --> 22:14.033
commitment to bridging the digital

22:14.033 --> 22:16.489
divide . And we recognize that access

22:16.500 --> 22:19.109
alone is not enough , it must be

22:19.119 --> 22:21.810
coupled with knowledge , with skills

22:21.819 --> 22:24.459
and tools necessary for individuals to

22:24.469 --> 22:26.680
truly thrive and better their

22:26.689 --> 22:29.469
opportunities through initiatives like

22:29.479 --> 22:32.300
urban . We brought high speed internet

22:32.310 --> 22:34.189
to some of the most remote and

22:34.199 --> 22:36.310
underserved communities in Colombia ,

22:36.310 --> 22:38.532
giving people the chance to participate

22:38.532 --> 22:40.839
in the digital economy to connect with

22:40.849 --> 22:43.579
their supply chains , establish their

22:43.589 --> 22:45.709
businesses , access government and

22:45.719 --> 22:47.941
health care services . And so much more

22:48.219 --> 22:50.469
our skilling programs have gone hand in

22:50.479 --> 22:53.660
hand , equipping thousands with the

22:53.670 --> 22:56.189
capabilities . They need to acquire the

22:56.199 --> 22:59.000
abilities to secure better jobs and

22:59.010 --> 23:02.270
create brighter futures for themselves ,

23:02.280 --> 23:04.447
their families and their communities .

23:05.380 --> 23:07.380
We have witnessed the power of this

23:07.380 --> 23:09.300
transformation . Communities ,

23:09.310 --> 23:12.079
communities once isolated are now

23:12.089 --> 23:15.510
connected individuals , once without

23:15.520 --> 23:18.229
prospects are now building careers and

23:18.239 --> 23:21.920
future of their own design . These are

23:21.930 --> 23:25.589
what a reminder of what's possible and

23:25.599 --> 23:27.920
when we unite around common purpose .

23:28.560 --> 23:30.727
But you know , it's also a challenge ,

23:30.727 --> 23:33.400
a challenge to continue and to deepen

23:33.410 --> 23:35.632
our commitment to expand the impact and

23:35.632 --> 23:38.719
work as we stand here today , I want to

23:38.729 --> 23:41.910
emphasize , emphasize that this honor

23:41.920 --> 23:43.869
belongs to every person and every

23:43.880 --> 23:46.150
organization that we have partnered

23:46.160 --> 23:48.380
with , every community that has

23:48.390 --> 23:50.949
embraced these opportunities and every

23:50.959 --> 23:53.890
organization that shares our vision for

23:53.900 --> 23:57.880
an inclusive and equitable future , we

23:57.890 --> 24:00.439
know no single organization and no

24:00.449 --> 24:03.760
single per person has the power to make

24:03.770 --> 24:06.640
real widespread change . But together

24:06.650 --> 24:08.706
we are providing the technology that

24:08.709 --> 24:11.699
hopefully can be a catalyst for a long

24:11.739 --> 24:14.400
lasting transformation . Thank you for

24:14.410 --> 24:16.839
this remarkable recognition and we

24:16.849 --> 24:19.040
excited , are we excited also of the

24:19.050 --> 24:21.106
road ahead and knowing that the best

24:21.106 --> 24:23.272
way to predict the future is really to

24:23.272 --> 24:25.106
create it together . Thank you .

24:37.579 --> 24:40.560
Thank you for those remarks . Uh We

24:40.569 --> 24:42.736
would now like to recognize our second

24:42.736 --> 24:44.958
winner in the category of innovation to

24:44.958 --> 24:47.180
strengthen communities Costa Coonan for

24:47.180 --> 24:49.689
their work in Togo , a pa empowering

24:49.699 --> 24:52.250
local beekeepers and farmers and

24:52.260 --> 24:54.093
forging the path for millions of

24:54.093 --> 24:56.149
dollars to exports for an innovative

24:56.149 --> 24:58.439
product . We now have a congratulatory

24:58.449 --> 25:01.140
video from US charge affairs to Togo

25:01.199 --> 25:02.930
Ronald E Hawkins .

25:04.869 --> 25:07.189
Hello , my name is Ron Hawkins and I'm

25:07.199 --> 25:09.421
the charge de Fair at the US Embassy in

25:09.421 --> 25:11.589
Lome Togo . It is my great pleasure to

25:11.599 --> 25:13.810
extend heartfelt . Congratulations to

25:13.819 --> 25:16.209
Costa Kan for being honored with the

25:16.219 --> 25:18.163
award for corporate excellence and

25:18.163 --> 25:20.459
innovation to strengthen communities to

25:20.469 --> 25:23.130
John Sylvan and the whole team at Costa

25:23.349 --> 25:25.349
Coonan . You have empowered tens of

25:25.349 --> 25:27.571
thousands of beekeepers throughout West

25:27.571 --> 25:29.890
Africa . Thank you for demonstrating

25:29.900 --> 25:32.079
the best of American values in Togo .

25:40.849 --> 25:43.339
Thank you , Char Hawkins . Please join

25:43.349 --> 25:45.560
me in welcoming the president of Costa

25:45.630 --> 25:48.890
Kan John Coster to accept the 2024

25:48.900 --> 25:50.844
award for innovation to strengthen

25:50.844 --> 25:52.680
communities and offer remarks .

26:22.530 --> 26:24.530
Yeah . Thank you . Acting Assistant

26:24.530 --> 26:26.430
Secretary Holman and Special

26:26.439 --> 26:29.219
Representative Morgan Tho . It is an

26:29.229 --> 26:31.285
incredible honor to be here today in

26:31.285 --> 26:33.500
Washington to see with my partners and

26:33.510 --> 26:36.050
my family , accepting the Secretary of

26:36.060 --> 26:38.338
State's Award for corporate excellence .

26:38.369 --> 26:40.425
I want to thank the US ambassador to

26:40.425 --> 26:42.719
Togo Elizabeth Fitzsimmons and Deputy

26:42.729 --> 26:45.699
Chief Ronald Hawkins who we just saw uh

26:46.369 --> 26:48.369
and the administrator for the Small

26:48.369 --> 26:50.591
Business Administration , Isabel Guzman

26:50.591 --> 26:52.758
for the nomination and their support .

26:53.469 --> 26:55.080
We're deeply honored by this

26:55.080 --> 26:57.191
recognition from the US Department of

26:57.191 --> 26:59.358
State and we extend our sincere thanks

26:59.358 --> 27:01.358
to Secretary Blinken and the entire

27:01.358 --> 27:04.890
selection committee for over 100 and 70

27:04.900 --> 27:07.680
years across five generations . Caster

27:07.979 --> 27:10.180
Kan has been a global leader in

27:10.189 --> 27:12.245
manufacturing and in finding natural

27:12.245 --> 27:14.560
waxes and ingredients . Our mission is

27:14.569 --> 27:16.625
to create sustainable and innovative

27:16.625 --> 27:18.880
solutions that benefit both people and

27:18.890 --> 27:21.339
planet . And today we stand before you

27:21.349 --> 27:23.571
as a testament to the power of business

27:23.571 --> 27:25.793
to drive positive change in the world .

27:26.300 --> 27:28.300
Our journey in West Africa began in

27:28.300 --> 27:30.719
2019 where we saw an opportunity in

27:30.729 --> 27:32.569
beeswax , a by-product of honey

27:32.579 --> 27:34.635
production that was often overlooked

27:34.635 --> 27:37.209
and undervalued local beekeepers

27:37.219 --> 27:39.108
despite their work and dedication

27:39.108 --> 27:41.569
struggled to access modern techniques

27:41.770 --> 27:43.603
and export markets for the wax ,

27:43.603 --> 27:45.714
limiting their income and potential .

27:46.390 --> 27:48.612
We thought we could make a difference .

27:48.612 --> 27:50.779
We launched our sustainability program

27:50.779 --> 27:53.780
that we like to call one hive . It's an

27:53.790 --> 27:55.512
initiative designed to empower

27:55.512 --> 27:57.568
beekeepers and transform the beeswax

27:57.568 --> 27:59.650
industry in West Africa through

27:59.660 --> 28:02.099
training education and the provision of

28:02.109 --> 28:04.331
modern beekeeping equipment like Kenyan

28:04.331 --> 28:07.380
top bar hives and proper be suits . We

28:07.390 --> 28:09.612
equip beekeepers with the tools and the

28:09.612 --> 28:12.760
training they needed to succeed . We

28:12.770 --> 28:14.603
introduce sustainable beekeeping

28:14.603 --> 28:16.550
practices , ensuring the long term

28:16.560 --> 28:18.680
health of bee populations and their

28:18.689 --> 28:21.510
vital role in our ecosystem as well as

28:21.520 --> 28:23.939
sustainable and reoccurring income for

28:23.949 --> 28:26.060
the beekeepers and their villages and

28:26.060 --> 28:28.959
communities and through a new program

28:28.969 --> 28:30.636
we initiated using Blockchain

28:30.636 --> 28:33.170
technology . This allowed us to trace

28:33.180 --> 28:35.347
the beeswax from the hive to the final

28:35.347 --> 28:37.458
product guaranteeing transparency and

28:37.458 --> 28:39.589
traceability by eliminating

28:39.599 --> 28:41.821
intermediates and connecting beekeepers

28:41.821 --> 28:43.988
directly to global markets . We ensure

28:43.988 --> 28:46.043
that beekeepers receive a fair price

28:46.043 --> 28:48.229
for their labor , empowering them to

28:48.239 --> 28:49.961
reinvest in their families and

28:49.961 --> 28:52.729
communities . The impact has been

28:52.739 --> 28:56.050
profound . Over 28,000 beekeepers

28:56.060 --> 28:58.219
across eight West African countries

28:58.229 --> 29:00.396
have seen their incomes rise and their

29:00.396 --> 29:02.709
livelihoods improve communities have

29:02.719 --> 29:04.719
been strengthened and families have

29:04.719 --> 29:07.140
been empowered and the environment has

29:07.150 --> 29:10.270
benefited with forest reserves and

29:10.839 --> 29:14.660
biodiversity protected . This award

29:14.670 --> 29:16.930
is a tribute to the incredible people

29:16.939 --> 29:19.780
of West Africa whose reliance ,

29:19.790 --> 29:22.439
resilience and determination inspire us

29:22.449 --> 29:25.270
every day . It's also a testament to

29:25.280 --> 29:27.630
the power of collaboration . We're

29:27.640 --> 29:29.584
grateful to our partners under the

29:29.584 --> 29:32.020
ground , the US government for its

29:32.030 --> 29:34.380
support and to our customers around the

29:34.390 --> 29:36.279
world who share our commitment to

29:36.279 --> 29:37.890
sustainability and community

29:37.890 --> 29:41.099
development at Kernan . We believe that

29:41.109 --> 29:43.969
business can be a force for good . We

29:43.979 --> 29:45.923
are proud to be a part of a global

29:45.923 --> 29:47.979
movement as working to create a more

29:47.979 --> 29:50.689
just and sustainable world . This award

29:50.699 --> 29:52.699
strengthens our resolve to continue

29:52.699 --> 29:54.921
innovating , to continue empowering and

29:54.921 --> 29:56.849
strengthening communities and to

29:56.859 --> 29:58.979
continue making a positive impact in

29:58.989 --> 30:00.609
our world . Thank you .

30:05.239 --> 30:06.239
Thank you .

30:13.689 --> 30:16.630
We now move to our next award category .

30:16.640 --> 30:19.400
Women's economic security . Women's

30:19.410 --> 30:21.466
economic Security is a category that

30:21.466 --> 30:23.688
not only reflects our shared commitment

30:23.688 --> 30:25.959
to creating an inclusive economy but

30:25.969 --> 30:27.969
also demonstrates the immense power

30:27.969 --> 30:29.580
that women can have on their

30:29.580 --> 30:31.439
communities , empowering women

30:31.449 --> 30:34.229
economically benefits all communities

30:34.239 --> 30:36.589
and helps us move towards a more just

30:36.599 --> 30:39.189
and equitable w world . I would say

30:39.199 --> 30:41.660
that when , when women win , we all win .

30:42.089 --> 30:44.880
Um And I did want to recognize uh again

30:44.890 --> 30:47.270
that this is the 25th anniversary of

30:47.280 --> 30:49.420
the Ace Awards , which was started by

30:49.430 --> 30:51.541
Secretary Malan Albright . And we are

30:51.541 --> 30:53.597
very honored uh to have her daughter

30:53.597 --> 30:56.540
here with us uh Alice Albright uh who

30:56.550 --> 30:59.030
has been carrying on uh in her mother's

30:59.040 --> 31:01.579
tradition of service and , and heads up

31:01.589 --> 31:03.311
uh the millennial uh challenge

31:03.311 --> 31:05.478
corporation which the state department

31:05.478 --> 31:07.750
works with closely . The first company

31:07.760 --> 31:09.969
that we recognize in this category is

31:09.979 --> 31:12.209
Bank of America and India . Their

31:12.219 --> 31:14.330
commitment to ensuring women are part

31:14.330 --> 31:16.552
of the workforce and are given the same

31:16.552 --> 31:18.775
skills and opportunities as others is a

31:18.775 --> 31:21.229
priority of the bank's country head .

31:21.380 --> 31:25.280
Uh Kako Nakata . Um Please join me in

31:25.290 --> 31:27.630
watching a brief congratulatory video

31:27.640 --> 31:29.969
from us ambassador to India , Eric

31:29.979 --> 31:33.969
Garcetti , greetings from New Delhi .

31:34.099 --> 31:35.988
I'm Eric Garcetti United States ,

31:35.988 --> 31:38.189
ambassador to India and on behalf of

31:38.199 --> 31:40.420
the US mission here in India , I want

31:40.430 --> 31:42.374
to congratulate Bank of America in

31:42.374 --> 31:44.689
India for earning the secretary's award

31:44.699 --> 31:46.699
for corporate excellence in women's

31:46.699 --> 31:49.459
economic Security Bank of America in

31:49.469 --> 31:51.619
India through its president and India

31:51.630 --> 31:54.260
country director , Kaku Nate , together

31:54.270 --> 31:56.589
with all of its employees is leading

31:56.599 --> 31:59.339
the promotion of women as employees and

31:59.349 --> 32:02.229
entrepreneurs as Kaku herself often

32:02.239 --> 32:04.400
says gender parity in the world place

32:04.410 --> 32:06.670
is not only the right thing to do , but

32:06.680 --> 32:08.347
it also makes businesses more

32:08.347 --> 32:10.640
profitable and impactful through its

32:10.650 --> 32:12.428
corporate social responsibility

32:12.428 --> 32:14.650
programs . Bank of America and India is

32:14.650 --> 32:16.872
also improving the lives of hundreds of

32:16.872 --> 32:19.094
thousands of women and girls throughout

32:19.094 --> 32:21.094
this great country , with companies

32:21.094 --> 32:23.039
like Bank of America and India and

32:23.039 --> 32:25.206
great leaders like Kaku and her team ,

32:25.206 --> 32:27.094
India is striving to increase the

32:27.094 --> 32:29.150
percentage of women in its workforce

32:29.150 --> 32:31.372
working towards its true potential as a

32:31.372 --> 32:33.372
global economic power befitting the

32:33.372 --> 32:34.930
world's largest democracy .

32:35.170 --> 32:37.059
Congratulations . And thank you .

32:42.949 --> 32:45.400
Thank you ambassador uh Garcetti . I'd

32:45.410 --> 32:47.521
also like to thank our Consul General

32:47.521 --> 32:50.229
in Mumbai Michael Hank uh for being

32:50.239 --> 32:52.128
here with us today . And it is my

32:52.128 --> 32:54.017
privilege to invite president and

32:54.017 --> 32:56.017
country head of Bank of America and

32:56.017 --> 32:58.128
India who can just be known as Kaku .

32:58.239 --> 33:00.350
So thank you so much for being here .

33:22.910 --> 33:23.910
Ok ,

33:29.699 --> 33:30.670
good afternoon ,

33:34.839 --> 33:37.119
assistant Secretary Amy Holman ,

33:37.709 --> 33:40.430
special representative Sarah Morgan .

33:41.420 --> 33:43.859
Of course , all the distinguished

33:43.869 --> 33:47.339
guests here and my dear friends . It's

33:47.349 --> 33:49.071
my great honor to receive this

33:49.071 --> 33:52.640
prestigious Ace Award on behalf of Bank

33:52.650 --> 33:55.329
of America India , which is currently

33:55.339 --> 33:58.750
celebrating 60 years in India . I would

33:58.760 --> 34:02.709
like to thank all the secretaries right

34:02.719 --> 34:05.329
from State Secretary of State Anthony

34:05.339 --> 34:07.510
Blinken , Deputy Secretary of State

34:07.520 --> 34:10.080
Kurt Campbell , us , ambassador to

34:10.090 --> 34:12.909
India , Eric Garcetti . And of course ,

34:12.919 --> 34:15.570
my your friend , Counsel General Mike

34:15.580 --> 34:19.389
Hanki for recognizing our work in India .

34:19.699 --> 34:22.439
I'd like to thank Brian Moynihan , our

34:22.449 --> 34:26.449
CEO and the entire global leadership

34:26.459 --> 34:29.388
for their constant support . Brian has

34:29.398 --> 34:32.289
always advocated responsible growth at

34:32.299 --> 34:36.009
Bank of America acting responsibly

34:36.039 --> 34:39.158
is one of our core values and guides

34:39.168 --> 34:42.249
how we invest in our communities and

34:42.259 --> 34:44.839
help them thrive for Bank of America .

34:44.849 --> 34:47.300
India is a priority market . It's the

34:47.310 --> 34:50.120
second largest contributor to our AIPAC

34:50.129 --> 34:53.169
earnings with over 15 per cent share in

34:53.179 --> 34:55.520
revenues and more than 23 per cent

34:55.530 --> 34:58.709
share in profit . This award really

34:58.719 --> 35:01.800
belongs to all my team mates across in

35:01.810 --> 35:04.649
India . Over the last decade , we have

35:04.659 --> 35:06.889
deployed roughly two per cent of our

35:06.899 --> 35:09.870
profits in India amounting to $70

35:09.879 --> 35:13.080
million . Working with 30 partners

35:13.090 --> 35:15.270
supporting education and skills

35:15.280 --> 35:17.729
development , jobs and livelihood ,

35:17.739 --> 35:20.949
creation , environmental sustainability ,

35:20.959 --> 35:23.679
water and sanitation and arts and

35:23.689 --> 35:25.780
culture . Over the years , we have

35:25.790 --> 35:29.399
transformed the life of about 6 million

35:29.409 --> 35:32.209
individuals including women and girls ,

35:32.219 --> 35:35.479
which gives us great satisfaction . The

35:35.489 --> 35:38.040
important role that women can play in

35:38.050 --> 35:40.810
the world's GDP development is today

35:40.820 --> 35:43.649
recognized wholeheartedly and you'd all

35:43.659 --> 35:46.800
agree with me on that today . Nearly

35:46.810 --> 35:49.540
half of the workforce in the world is

35:49.550 --> 35:53.020
women . While India only 37

35:53.030 --> 35:56.620
are in the workforce . Unfortunately ,

35:56.629 --> 35:59.699
they only contribute 18 per cent of

35:59.709 --> 36:03.540
India's GDP . Despite accounting for 48

36:03.550 --> 36:06.000
per cent of the overall population ,

36:06.679 --> 36:09.070
the world bank estimates that the loss

36:09.080 --> 36:11.659
due to gender inequality in the world

36:11.669 --> 36:15.060
is around 172 trillion . Approximately

36:15.070 --> 36:18.600
1.7 times the global GDP . So in

36:18.610 --> 36:21.929
India , if women's contribution to GDP

36:21.939 --> 36:25.729
just increased from 18 to 25 per cent ,

36:25.739 --> 36:29.300
by 2030 we would add 1.5

36:29.310 --> 36:32.800
trillion to take our economy to six

36:33.179 --> 36:35.919
trillion . A significant 30 per cent

36:35.929 --> 36:39.350
gain . Hence , we decided to apply a

36:39.370 --> 36:42.879
gender lens to program models centered

36:42.889 --> 36:46.379
around empowering women who we believe

36:46.389 --> 36:49.919
will create transgenerational impact in

36:49.929 --> 36:52.570
the society . We also focus on

36:52.580 --> 36:55.729
adolescent girls because India accounts

36:55.739 --> 36:58.120
for 10 per cent of the adolescent

36:58.129 --> 37:02.000
population in the world . Lack of

37:02.010 --> 37:04.129
water sanitation and hygiene

37:04.139 --> 37:07.050
infrastructure has adversely impacted

37:07.189 --> 37:10.209
the cohort of girls . For years . Our

37:10.219 --> 37:13.469
support to partners like Rama , shelter ,

37:13.479 --> 37:16.979
mht and vase ensured a toilet in a

37:16.989 --> 37:19.929
girls' home . Thus and answering her

37:19.939 --> 37:23.659
esteem within the family . In the

37:23.669 --> 37:26.290
same cluster , schools were provided

37:26.300 --> 37:29.290
with toilets . The idea was the basic

37:29.300 --> 37:33.070
need and retaining girls in school till

37:33.080 --> 37:36.340
date . Our partners have built 19,000

37:36.350 --> 37:39.050
toilets . Our program with Quest

37:39.060 --> 37:41.840
Alliance provides stem and life skills

37:41.850 --> 37:45.050
to adolescent students . With we

37:45.060 --> 37:48.209
created smart classrooms in governments

37:48.219 --> 37:51.320
run schools enabling blended learning

37:51.330 --> 37:54.479
using tablets , enhancing stem learning .

37:54.739 --> 37:57.169
We plan to introduce coding in

37:57.179 --> 38:00.370
classrooms very soon . Our vocational

38:00.379 --> 38:02.760
training programs with partners like

38:02.770 --> 38:05.320
generation and enable India who work

38:05.330 --> 38:08.439
with individuals with disabilities ,

38:08.449 --> 38:10.719
help deliver skills to enable

38:10.729 --> 38:13.590
employment in sectors like healthcare

38:13.600 --> 38:16.850
services , retail and technology . We

38:16.860 --> 38:19.989
support even rural programs with and

38:20.000 --> 38:22.810
development alternatives that create

38:22.820 --> 38:25.850
local income generation opportunities

38:25.860 --> 38:28.449
for women . Often on the back of

38:28.459 --> 38:31.629
community owned renewables and energy

38:31.639 --> 38:34.870
microgrids and irrigation systems . As

38:34.879 --> 38:37.969
a result , 50,000 women farmers and

38:37.979 --> 38:40.610
entrepreneurs have seen their income

38:40.620 --> 38:44.209
rise significantly by 70 per cent

38:44.229 --> 38:46.459
over a two year period . The

38:46.469 --> 38:49.500
intersectionality of philanthropic

38:49.510 --> 38:52.409
programs hits multiple sustainable

38:52.419 --> 38:55.820
development goals , providing access to

38:55.830 --> 38:59.179
clean energy , water sanitation ,

38:59.689 --> 39:02.179
elevating poverty and improving . Of

39:02.189 --> 39:05.649
course , the gender equality , we work

39:05.659 --> 39:09.419
closely with CS MVS and Map museum to

39:09.429 --> 39:12.669
help conserve the as rich cultural

39:12.679 --> 39:15.860
heritage . We supported AMCHAM in

39:15.870 --> 39:19.179
creating ad committee across American

39:19.189 --> 39:22.260
companies to focus on gender diversity .

39:22.270 --> 39:25.939
LGBT Q inclusion and individuals with

39:25.949 --> 39:29.409
disabilities . So , on behalf of Bank

39:29.419 --> 39:32.479
of America , I once again , would like

39:32.489 --> 39:36.070
to thank all of you and express assist

39:36.159 --> 39:38.580
sincere appreciation to the State

39:38.590 --> 39:41.780
Department for this Ace Award . This

39:41.790 --> 39:45.659
will inspire us further to create more

39:45.669 --> 39:47.899
opportunities for women empowerment ,

39:47.969 --> 39:50.580
which will help to make a difference in

39:50.590 --> 39:53.260
the society . And today I learned

39:53.270 --> 39:56.260
genius and generosity is all that we

39:56.270 --> 39:58.659
need to work for . So thank you once

39:58.669 --> 40:00.780
again for giving us this award .

40:11.290 --> 40:13.800
Ko thank you . Uh The next word in the

40:13.810 --> 40:16.550
women's economic security category goes

40:16.560 --> 40:19.520
to Parker Clay uh nominated by the US

40:19.530 --> 40:22.840
Embassy in Ethiopia . Parker Clay truly

40:22.850 --> 40:24.800
embodies the spirit of uplifting

40:24.810 --> 40:26.989
communities by helping women who were

40:27.000 --> 40:29.449
once victims of exploitation to become

40:29.459 --> 40:32.330
economically empowered individuals . We

40:32.340 --> 40:34.909
now have a congratulatory video from us

40:34.919 --> 40:38.129
ambassador to Ethiopia , Irvin Masinga .

40:42.010 --> 40:44.177
Good day . As Ambassador of Ethiopia .

40:44.177 --> 40:46.177
I am honored to congratulate Parker

40:46.177 --> 40:47.899
Clay for winning the award for

40:47.899 --> 40:49.677
corporate excellence in women's

40:49.677 --> 40:51.732
economic security . I'm proud to see

40:51.732 --> 40:54.010
their incredible work being celebrated .

40:54.010 --> 40:56.010
Parker Clay's commitment to ethical

40:56.010 --> 40:55.919
business and social impact in Ethiopia

40:55.929 --> 40:58.040
is transforming lives and empowering

40:58.050 --> 41:00.272
local communities . We nominated Parker

41:00.272 --> 41:02.439
Clay for creating sustainable jobs and

41:02.439 --> 41:04.328
fostering local craftsmanship and

41:04.328 --> 41:06.106
because Parker Clay is not just

41:06.106 --> 41:07.883
building their brand , they are

41:07.883 --> 41:10.106
building a better future for Ethiopia .

41:10.106 --> 41:12.161
Parker Clay empowers Ethiopian women

41:12.161 --> 41:14.161
helping them to harness traditional

41:14.161 --> 41:16.217
skills and local materials to create

41:16.217 --> 41:18.272
world class products while combating

41:18.272 --> 41:20.494
human trafficking . Parker Clay ensures

41:20.494 --> 41:22.494
its workers earn wages that support

41:22.494 --> 41:24.550
their families and provide them with

41:24.550 --> 41:26.661
the tools to uplift their communities

41:26.661 --> 41:28.717
on their own terms . Congratulations

41:28.717 --> 41:30.772
again to Brittany Ian and the entire

41:30.772 --> 41:32.994
Parker Clay team for this well deserved

41:32.994 --> 41:33.994
award .

41:39.659 --> 41:42.159
Thank you , Ambassador Masinga and I am

41:42.169 --> 41:44.189
now proud , proud to invite the

41:44.199 --> 41:46.500
co-founder and creative director of

41:46.510 --> 41:49.120
Parker Clay . Brittany Bentley to the

41:49.129 --> 41:52.229
stage uh to accept the 2024 award for

41:52.280 --> 41:54.709
women's economic security and offer

41:54.719 --> 41:55.429
remarks

42:24.889 --> 42:27.056
leading with heart doesn't just change

42:27.056 --> 42:29.167
the outcome . It redirects the course

42:29.167 --> 42:32.959
of our world . It's 2015 and I'm seven

42:32.969 --> 42:35.025
months pregnant , sitting on a small

42:35.025 --> 42:37.629
gray sofa . My husband Ian and I are in

42:37.639 --> 42:39.760
California living in a friend's one

42:39.770 --> 42:42.449
bedroom apartment with our five kids .

42:43.780 --> 42:45.613
That's when I get the news . Our

42:45.613 --> 42:47.780
youngest daughter , Sela needs a brain

42:47.780 --> 42:50.790
surgery for a rare brain tumor . My

42:50.800 --> 42:52.800
mind races back to just three years

42:52.800 --> 42:54.929
earlier , Ian and I sold everything

42:54.939 --> 42:57.129
left California and moved to Ethiopia

42:57.139 --> 43:00.399
on one way tickets , adopting two girls ,

43:00.409 --> 43:02.919
brought us to Ethiopia . But once there ,

43:03.139 --> 43:05.250
we saw that creating sustainable jobs

43:05.250 --> 43:07.919
for women , especially mothers could

43:07.929 --> 43:10.739
strengthen entire communities . What

43:10.750 --> 43:13.040
began as a job training program quickly

43:13.050 --> 43:14.939
grew into something much bigger ,

43:15.120 --> 43:17.064
empowering women through trade and

43:17.064 --> 43:19.287
launching a start up , deeply rooted in

43:19.287 --> 43:21.120
the place that became our home .

43:21.800 --> 43:23.911
Suddenly , our daughter was diagnosed

43:23.911 --> 43:26.022
with intractable epilepsy and it felt

43:26.022 --> 43:28.699
like that dream was slipping away . We

43:28.709 --> 43:30.820
knew we had to leave and move back to

43:30.820 --> 43:32.987
the west coast to get her the care she

43:32.987 --> 43:35.260
needed back to sitting on that sofa and

43:35.270 --> 43:37.360
hearing the news as a mom , I'm

43:37.370 --> 43:39.570
heartbroken , feeling helpless and

43:39.580 --> 43:41.913
desperate as I watch my youngest suffer ,

43:42.489 --> 43:44.600
how do I carry the weight of that and

43:44.600 --> 43:46.739
continue building Parker Clay ? I

43:46.750 --> 43:49.120
thought about Martha back in Ethiopia

43:49.330 --> 43:51.441
struggling with her vision loss . She

43:51.441 --> 43:53.663
joined Parker Clay and found not just a

43:53.663 --> 43:56.639
job but recognition and care . After

43:56.649 --> 43:58.538
receiving her glasses through our

43:58.538 --> 44:01.000
team's support her world for the first

44:01.010 --> 44:02.959
time . She said my world has

44:02.969 --> 44:05.439
transformed . I not only see I feel

44:05.449 --> 44:09.340
seen and so and Beteen met at

44:09.350 --> 44:12.189
Parker Clay started a family and are

44:12.199 --> 44:14.088
now thriving with the help of our

44:14.088 --> 44:16.419
daycare program . Their child is

44:16.429 --> 44:18.649
nurtured nearby while they work and

44:18.659 --> 44:21.060
save for a better future . And there

44:21.070 --> 44:23.292
are so many more lives in Ethiopia that

44:23.292 --> 44:25.459
we can directly impact yet at the same

44:25.459 --> 44:27.514
time my family on , in California is

44:27.514 --> 44:29.620
counting on me too . I feel so

44:29.629 --> 44:31.796
conflicted . But every time I think of

44:31.796 --> 44:33.740
the strength and resilience of the

44:33.740 --> 44:35.851
mothers there , I'm reminded that I'm

44:35.851 --> 44:37.907
far more capable than I was taught .

44:38.659 --> 44:40.881
It's at that moment that Ian and I make

44:40.881 --> 44:43.048
one of the most important decisions of

44:43.048 --> 44:45.719
our lives to go all in on our business ,

44:46.080 --> 44:48.191
not just as our own venture , but for

44:48.191 --> 44:50.247
the lives of the women whose stories

44:50.247 --> 44:52.879
were too often left untold . We chose

44:52.889 --> 44:55.620
purpose over comfort because the impact

44:55.629 --> 44:57.629
we are striving for was far greater

44:57.629 --> 45:01.040
than our fears . Now , over a decade

45:01.050 --> 45:03.310
later , I stand before you with deep

45:03.320 --> 45:05.449
pride . Two of our daughters are here

45:05.459 --> 45:07.649
today . The one I was pregnant with

45:10.510 --> 45:14.409
and Sela who is uh thriving after three

45:14.419 --> 45:16.689
brain surgeries . Remi reminding us

45:16.699 --> 45:18.810
that the hardest moments also defined

45:18.810 --> 45:19.959
us you

45:24.159 --> 45:26.159
that commitment to build a business

45:26.159 --> 45:28.560
with heart driven by impact was the

45:28.570 --> 45:31.320
best decision we ever made . We put

45:31.330 --> 45:33.330
people first and that choice didn't

45:33.330 --> 45:35.497
just change lives . It changed the way

45:35.497 --> 45:37.860
we see the world , imagine what we

45:37.870 --> 45:40.399
could all achieve if we led businesses

45:40.409 --> 45:42.870
with heart and build them with purpose .

45:43.739 --> 45:47.570
Today , our team of 200 artisans , 80%

45:47.580 --> 45:49.479
women shows that compassion and

45:49.489 --> 45:52.409
business go hand in hand as Ethiopia's

45:52.419 --> 45:54.475
largest exporter of finished leather

45:54.475 --> 45:57.239
goods and a top ranking B Corp Parker

45:57.250 --> 45:59.969
clay sets the standard for quality and

45:59.979 --> 46:03.159
impact in ethical manufacturing . Now

46:03.169 --> 46:05.113
we're extending this excellence to

46:05.113 --> 46:07.510
other global brands and redefining

46:07.520 --> 46:09.889
success , not just by profits but by

46:09.899 --> 46:12.439
lives transformed . Like Marta's Salz

46:12.840 --> 46:15.870
and Ben's through this journey , I've

46:15.879 --> 46:17.657
learned that success isn't just

46:17.657 --> 46:19.601
measured in profits or growth , of

46:19.601 --> 46:21.823
course , those matter , but also in the

46:21.823 --> 46:25.120
lives we impact along the way . For me ,

46:25.129 --> 46:27.129
this started with my own family and

46:27.129 --> 46:29.018
extends across oceans to Ethiopia

46:29.320 --> 46:31.610
Parker . Clay isn't just a business .

46:31.760 --> 46:34.093
It's proof that when we lead with heart ,

46:34.093 --> 46:36.510
we change the world one life at a time .

46:37.520 --> 46:39.687
And speaking of leadership , I want to

46:39.687 --> 46:41.853
thank Secretary Blinken for this honor

46:41.853 --> 46:43.798
and recognition us . Ambassador of

46:43.798 --> 46:46.280
Ethiopia , Mr Masinga , Minister of

46:46.290 --> 46:49.969
Industry Atalo Prime Minister Abi Ahmad ,

46:49.979 --> 46:52.280
and of course , our entire community

46:52.290 --> 46:54.879
who have joined forces in creating this

46:54.889 --> 46:57.479
impact together . Your faith in us is a

46:57.489 --> 47:00.679
continued inspiration . I invite you to

47:00.689 --> 47:02.745
join us because together we have the

47:02.745 --> 47:05.520
power to transform lives , one woman at

47:05.530 --> 47:07.750
a time . Thank you . Or in Ethiopia we

47:07.830 --> 47:09.959
say a seal . Mhm

47:21.659 --> 47:23.909
That was pretty amazing . I just need

47:23.919 --> 47:25.919
to take a quick pause . We uh are a

47:25.919 --> 47:29.790
little uh very uh structured

47:29.800 --> 47:31.911
here at the State Department . Um But

47:31.911 --> 47:34.129
your mother is a badass .

47:43.860 --> 47:45.979
We now move to the final category of

47:45.989 --> 47:47.767
this year's secretary award for

47:47.767 --> 47:49.489
corporate excellence , climate

47:49.489 --> 47:51.545
resilience . Our first award in this

47:51.545 --> 47:53.600
category goes to Newmont Corporation

47:53.719 --> 47:56.659
nominated by the US Embassy in Suriname .

47:56.729 --> 47:59.139
Their community collaboration and use

47:59.149 --> 48:01.729
of tools to eliminate mercury pollution

48:01.830 --> 48:03.979
sets the standard for responsible

48:03.989 --> 48:06.719
mining practices in Suriname . We are

48:06.729 --> 48:08.618
grateful to have us ambassador to

48:08.618 --> 48:10.810
Suriname Robert Faucher here with us

48:10.820 --> 48:13.669
today . The ambassador very kindly made

48:13.679 --> 48:15.623
a congratulatory video for no Mont

48:15.623 --> 48:18.100
corporation and I invite you to turn to

48:18.110 --> 48:19.110
the screen .

48:22.520 --> 48:24.659
Good morning . It is my honor to

48:24.669 --> 48:26.891
congratulate Newmont mining for winning

48:26.891 --> 48:29.113
one of this year's awards for corporate

48:29.113 --> 48:31.113
excellence . Newman has operated in

48:31.113 --> 48:33.469
Suriname for over a decade and during

48:33.479 --> 48:35.368
that time has been an outstanding

48:35.368 --> 48:37.739
example of corporate responsibility and

48:37.750 --> 48:40.699
environmental stewardship . Newman has

48:40.709 --> 48:43.290
shown that running a successful company

48:43.300 --> 48:45.244
and protecting the environment are

48:45.244 --> 48:48.080
mutually reinforcing . Newmont's work

48:48.090 --> 48:50.090
has enriched the lives of countless

48:50.129 --> 48:51.979
Surinam while ensuring future

48:51.989 --> 48:53.822
generations can enjoy Suriname's

48:53.822 --> 48:57.510
natural beauty and biodiversity . Thank

48:57.520 --> 48:59.742
you Newmont for your leadership and for

48:59.742 --> 49:01.853
your commitment to a greener and more

49:01.853 --> 49:02.964
prosperous future .

49:10.239 --> 49:12.429
Thank you , Ambassador Faucher . And

49:12.439 --> 49:14.669
this time , please join me in welcoming

49:14.679 --> 49:16.489
the Senior Director of External

49:16.500 --> 49:18.389
Relations for Newmont Suriname ,

49:18.429 --> 49:22.199
Shirley Soma Sumter to accept the 2024

49:22.209 --> 49:24.530
Ace Award for climate resilience and

49:24.540 --> 49:25.659
offer remarks .

50:03.689 --> 50:05.245
Good afternoon , everyone .

50:08.320 --> 50:10.850
Acting secretary , Assistant Secretary ,

50:10.860 --> 50:14.370
Amy Holman , a special

50:14.379 --> 50:16.290
representative Sarah Morgenthal ,

50:20.120 --> 50:22.679
the honorable ambassador of Suriname to

50:22.689 --> 50:26.570
the US , Mrs and the

50:26.580 --> 50:29.250
honorable ambassador of the US to

50:29.260 --> 50:30.810
Suriname . Mr Fauci ,

50:33.159 --> 50:37.020
distinguished guests and all who are

50:37.030 --> 50:38.229
joining us today .

50:41.479 --> 50:43.310
It is with deep gratitude and

50:43.320 --> 50:46.280
appreciation that I accept this

50:46.290 --> 50:50.260
prestigious Ace Award on behalf of

50:50.270 --> 50:53.659
Newmont and our incredible team at

50:53.679 --> 50:55.090
Marian Suriname ,

50:58.040 --> 51:00.110
our workforce at , at the Marion

51:00.189 --> 51:04.179
Surinam of nearly 1400 teammates

51:05.239 --> 51:07.810
have come together to make an impact .

51:08.820 --> 51:11.530
And it's a privilege to be recognized

51:11.540 --> 51:12.649
for our efforts

51:16.169 --> 51:18.336
since we began operating in Suriname .

51:18.336 --> 51:22.189
In 2016 , we have lived

51:22.199 --> 51:24.850
following Newman's purpose , which is

51:24.860 --> 51:28.590
to create value and to improve lives

51:28.899 --> 51:30.899
through sustainable and responsible

51:30.899 --> 51:34.620
mining and in

51:34.629 --> 51:37.520
alignment with our purpose . We have

51:37.530 --> 51:40.290
always recognized the critical needs of

51:40.300 --> 51:42.409
the local communities we operate in

51:43.580 --> 51:45.580
particularly when it , particularly

51:45.580 --> 51:48.260
when it comes to infrastructure

51:49.379 --> 51:51.560
and economic opportunities ,

51:52.669 --> 51:54.770
challenges that may have grown more

51:54.780 --> 51:57.770
urgent in the face of climate change .

52:01.120 --> 52:04.379
Over the years , we have launched

52:05.229 --> 52:09.000
numerous initiatives aimed at reducing

52:09.010 --> 52:12.550
deforestation , rehabilitating the

52:12.560 --> 52:16.100
land and improving water efficiency .

52:18.310 --> 52:20.989
But beyond environmental stewardship ,

52:21.949 --> 52:24.790
our local programs have delivered

52:24.800 --> 52:28.169
tangible and life changing

52:28.179 --> 52:31.000
benefits to these communities .

52:33.100 --> 52:35.949
We are deeply committed to enhancing

52:35.959 --> 52:39.199
the quality of life for our neighbors ,

52:41.419 --> 52:44.209
whether it's working hand in hand with

52:44.219 --> 52:47.530
small and small scale miners to

52:47.540 --> 52:51.209
mitigate their environmental impact or

52:51.219 --> 52:53.370
supporting and fostering new

52:53.379 --> 52:55.323
opportunities for local businesses

52:55.323 --> 52:58.750
within our value chain . We believe

52:58.760 --> 53:01.919
that sustainable growth starts with

53:01.929 --> 53:03.879
partnership and collaboration .

53:06.250 --> 53:08.250
New one plays a significant role in

53:08.250 --> 53:11.179
supporting and advancing Surinam

53:11.860 --> 53:14.510
Suriname's Green Development goals

53:15.629 --> 53:18.050
and we will continue to increase our

53:18.060 --> 53:20.939
impact in this area in close

53:20.949 --> 53:23.159
collaboration with our stakeholders .

53:24.929 --> 53:27.709
This unwavering dedication to our

53:27.719 --> 53:31.560
purpose has remained constant over the

53:31.570 --> 53:35.209
years , driving social economic

53:35.219 --> 53:37.939
development in the communities we are

53:37.949 --> 53:39.399
privileged to serve .

53:44.290 --> 53:46.590
I'm grateful for everyone who has

53:46.600 --> 53:49.260
helped us along the way from our

53:49.270 --> 53:53.229
dedicated employees and our partners ,

53:55.209 --> 53:57.949
Masina and Fe the state owned oil

53:57.959 --> 54:01.209
company and without their unwavering

54:01.219 --> 54:05.209
commitment , we would not be here today .

54:07.379 --> 54:11.040
I'm especially grateful to ambassador

54:11.050 --> 54:14.620
Robert Faucher for nominating Newman's

54:14.629 --> 54:17.030
work in Suriname . Thank you very much .

54:22.389 --> 54:26.189
Thank you and

54:26.199 --> 54:29.489
on behalf of Newmont , 100 and three

54:29.500 --> 54:33.050
year old American company with 40,000

54:33.060 --> 54:36.649
employees operating in nine countries .

54:37.320 --> 54:39.431
And the team of Newmont and Surinam ,

54:40.379 --> 54:42.300
we look forward to continuing our

54:42.310 --> 54:44.254
partnership with the government of

54:44.254 --> 54:47.879
Suriname and surrounding communities in

54:47.889 --> 54:50.111
pursuit of even greater achievements in

54:50.111 --> 54:54.000
the future . For those of

54:54.010 --> 54:57.199
you tuned in on the webcast from

54:57.209 --> 55:00.820
Surinam . I cannot wait to bring this

55:00.830 --> 55:04.770
award back home and celebrate

55:04.780 --> 55:08.590
with all of you . Thank you

55:08.600 --> 55:10.800
once again for this incredible honor .

55:26.010 --> 55:28.760
Thank you very much and last but not

55:28.770 --> 55:31.040
least , the final award in the category

55:31.050 --> 55:33.370
of climate resilience goes to Rhizome

55:33.620 --> 55:36.340
nominated by us Embassy Manila

55:36.570 --> 55:38.719
Rhizome's innovative production of

55:38.729 --> 55:41.239
bamboo to provide a more sustainable

55:41.250 --> 55:43.360
alternative construction material

55:43.530 --> 55:45.560
exemplifies the American private

55:45.570 --> 55:48.560
sector's ingenuity and ability to adapt

55:48.570 --> 55:50.500
to the climate crisis . We are

55:50.510 --> 55:52.677
delighted to have us ambassador to the

55:52.677 --> 55:54.677
Philippines , Mary Kay Carlson here

55:54.677 --> 55:56.780
with us today . The ambassador very

55:56.790 --> 55:59.149
kindly made a congratulatory video for

55:59.159 --> 56:01.326
Rhizome . Please turn your attention .

56:04.389 --> 56:06.860
Congratulations to Rhizome for winning

56:06.870 --> 56:08.814
the Secretary of State's Award for

56:08.814 --> 56:10.648
corporate excellence for climate

56:10.648 --> 56:12.830
resilience . I recently visited

56:12.840 --> 56:14.790
Rhizome's impressive facility in

56:14.800 --> 56:16.800
Mindanao where they are combining

56:16.810 --> 56:19.149
American innovation and Filipino

56:19.159 --> 56:21.830
expertise to turn renewable and fast

56:21.840 --> 56:24.000
growing giant bamboo , the miracle

56:24.010 --> 56:25.939
timber into sustainable building

56:25.949 --> 56:28.270
materials that are as strong as steel

56:28.280 --> 56:30.760
and toughest concrete . Rhizome's

56:30.770 --> 56:33.060
investment promotes green construction

56:33.120 --> 56:35.459
while contributing to the US Philippine

56:35.469 --> 56:38.179
economic relationship as partners in

56:38.189 --> 56:39.060
prosperity .

56:45.899 --> 56:48.010
Thank you , Ambassador Carlson . Uh

56:48.020 --> 56:50.520
It's my honor to present Rezone with

56:50.530 --> 56:52.810
the 2024 Ace Award for climate

56:52.820 --> 56:55.090
resilience . Please join me in

56:55.100 --> 56:57.100
welcoming founder and Chief Product

56:57.100 --> 56:59.229
Officer David Sands to accept this

56:59.239 --> 57:01.800
year's final award and offer remarks .

57:15.379 --> 57:16.379
Yeah .

57:37.110 --> 57:39.500
Well , thank you , Acting Assistant

57:39.510 --> 57:42.429
Secretary Holman , Special

57:42.439 --> 57:45.709
Representative Morgan Thal and

57:45.719 --> 57:48.409
distinguished guests . It's an honor to

57:48.419 --> 57:50.929
be here representing our entire rhizome

57:51.010 --> 57:54.080
team . I especially want to thank

57:54.250 --> 57:57.169
ambassador Mary Kay Carlson , whose

57:57.179 --> 58:01.100
staff nominated us . Thank you as well ,

58:01.379 --> 58:03.379
Ambassador Carlson for visiting our

58:03.379 --> 58:06.469
operations in Mindanao . Thank you to

58:06.479 --> 58:09.500
USA Id Philippines and their staff who

58:09.510 --> 58:11.739
helped fund one of our first

58:11.750 --> 58:15.409
reforestation programs . Thank you to

58:15.419 --> 58:17.419
one tree planted who helped support

58:17.419 --> 58:19.949
that effort as well . And thank you to

58:19.959 --> 58:22.126
climate impact partners who is funding

58:22.126 --> 58:24.669
our current planting program of about

58:24.679 --> 58:26.360
17,000 acres .

58:28.939 --> 58:31.139
Thank you to our investors and our

58:31.149 --> 58:33.399
chairman Fred Merrill who believed in

58:33.409 --> 58:36.060
our vision . Thank you to the entire R

58:36.129 --> 58:38.018
zone team . Now implementing that

58:38.018 --> 58:40.719
vision , especially our Ceo Russell

58:40.729 --> 58:43.209
Smith , who has shared that vision with

58:43.219 --> 58:46.100
me for over a decade and tirelessly

58:46.110 --> 58:48.659
implements it . Thank you to our

58:48.669 --> 58:51.370
manufacturing teams headed by Chris Oau

58:51.560 --> 58:55.070
and Ruel rival and our planting teams

58:55.080 --> 58:58.280
headed by Eileen Gama . I'm joined here

58:58.290 --> 59:02.199
today by our CFO Hara Panagopoulos

59:03.110 --> 59:04.943
who has seen us through from the

59:04.943 --> 59:08.659
beginning by our partner Sito Lorenzo ,

59:09.050 --> 59:11.272
former Secretary of Agriculture for the

59:11.272 --> 59:13.870
Philippines , a tireless advocate for

59:13.879 --> 59:16.101
the well being of the rural communities

59:16.101 --> 59:18.212
of the Philippines and for the health

59:18.212 --> 59:21.530
of the planet . And by uh my brother

59:21.669 --> 59:25.600
uh Bill and his wife Julie , who

59:25.610 --> 59:27.666
have really supported me through the

59:27.666 --> 59:31.060
decades in this adventure with bamboo

59:32.239 --> 59:35.830
and again to , to Fred , um we

59:35.989 --> 59:38.739
basically grew up together and he's

59:38.750 --> 59:42.449
former chairman of two Fortune

59:42.459 --> 59:44.959
500 companies and brings that expertise

59:44.969 --> 59:46.302
to the work we're doing

59:48.959 --> 59:51.239
my work with bamboo started in the 19

59:51.250 --> 59:53.306
nineties with the creation of bamboo

59:53.306 --> 59:55.417
living making homes out of structural

59:55.417 --> 59:57.780
bamboo as an alternative to wood to

59:57.790 --> 01:00:00.969
reduce deforestation as the impact of

01:00:00.979 --> 01:00:03.899
climate change increased . We looked to

01:00:03.909 --> 01:00:07.120
bamboo as a solution . We founded Ray

01:00:07.149 --> 01:00:10.179
Zone as a climate solution . It seems

01:00:10.189 --> 01:00:13.600
so obvious . Noninvasive tropical

01:00:13.610 --> 01:00:16.110
timber bamboos are after all the

01:00:16.120 --> 01:00:18.120
fastest growing woody plants on the

01:00:18.120 --> 01:00:20.919
planet . If you look at the Guinness

01:00:20.929 --> 01:00:23.649
Book of Records , they say 35 inches a

01:00:23.659 --> 01:00:26.899
day . Wh I haven't seen that yet but we

01:00:26.909 --> 01:00:30.820
at least a foot a day . Um And then

01:00:30.830 --> 01:00:34.209
they feed on carbon dioxide . The

01:00:34.219 --> 01:00:36.108
annual harvest stimulates further

01:00:36.108 --> 01:00:37.997
growth with bamboo plants and the

01:00:37.997 --> 01:00:40.219
plants can live for a century or more .

01:00:41.149 --> 01:00:43.850
But nobody was doing what to me was so

01:00:43.860 --> 01:00:47.260
obviously needed to be done . So we

01:00:47.270 --> 01:00:49.709
started Rhi Zone to do the obvious

01:00:50.399 --> 01:00:52.510
where I grew up in Florida . I played

01:00:52.510 --> 01:00:54.732
in a bamboo plant that is well over 100

01:00:54.732 --> 01:00:57.439
and 20 years old . It was growing at

01:00:57.449 --> 01:01:00.739
Chairman Fred's uh family home and his

01:01:00.750 --> 01:01:02.694
mother played that same clump as a

01:01:02.694 --> 01:01:06.129
child . So what are we doing at R Zone

01:01:06.909 --> 01:01:09.149
by reforesting land that was deforested

01:01:09.159 --> 01:01:12.050
decades ago . We are creating an engine

01:01:12.060 --> 01:01:15.290
for the rapid removal of carbon dioxide

01:01:15.300 --> 01:01:17.770
from the atmosphere 10 times faster

01:01:17.780 --> 01:01:20.489
than trees . We're creating an engine

01:01:20.500 --> 01:01:23.169
that can scale quickly to gatun levels

01:01:23.179 --> 01:01:25.540
of impact . We're one of the top

01:01:25.550 --> 01:01:28.659
solutions according to climate , uh the

01:01:28.669 --> 01:01:31.419
Carbon removal X Prize and they did not

01:01:31.429 --> 01:01:33.750
include avoided emissions which is half

01:01:33.760 --> 01:01:34.699
of our impact .

01:01:37.729 --> 01:01:40.840
We use only land that is not being used

01:01:40.850 --> 01:01:43.520
for agriculture to avoid uh impacting

01:01:43.530 --> 01:01:46.719
food security with the help of CEO and

01:01:46.729 --> 01:01:49.159
others who are using regenerative

01:01:49.169 --> 01:01:51.729
agricultural techniques . We are uh

01:01:51.739 --> 01:01:53.679
doing that without the need for

01:01:53.689 --> 01:01:55.919
commercial fertilizers and pesticides .

01:01:57.120 --> 01:01:59.429
The wonderful thing we are finding as

01:01:59.439 --> 01:02:02.429
we implement our strategy is the broad

01:02:02.439 --> 01:02:04.879
positive social and environmental

01:02:04.889 --> 01:02:07.510
impacts beyond climate . With our

01:02:07.520 --> 01:02:09.742
projects in Mindanao , we're addressing

01:02:09.742 --> 01:02:11.780
every one of the United Nations

01:02:11.790 --> 01:02:14.340
Sustainable Development Goals in some

01:02:14.350 --> 01:02:17.439
way . Uh including the former

01:02:17.449 --> 01:02:19.979
insurgents are now a supplier to us .

01:02:20.489 --> 01:02:23.780
Our planting partners are in indigenous

01:02:24.189 --> 01:02:27.020
tribal members and our planting program

01:02:27.030 --> 01:02:29.340
and our nursery are run by indigenous

01:02:29.350 --> 01:02:31.879
women . We're helping the tribes

01:02:31.889 --> 01:02:34.840
reforest their deforested lands of

01:02:34.850 --> 01:02:37.459
their ancestral domains and create

01:02:37.469 --> 01:02:40.020
multigenerational livelihoods for their

01:02:40.030 --> 01:02:42.649
communities by the annual harvest of

01:02:42.659 --> 01:02:46.030
the bamboo and then long term community

01:02:46.040 --> 01:02:48.209
held assets in the bamboo plants .

01:02:49.629 --> 01:02:51.370
Bamboo is actually a superfood

01:02:51.379 --> 01:02:53.323
containing all the essential amino

01:02:53.323 --> 01:02:55.649
acids and is high in antioxidants ,

01:02:55.659 --> 01:02:57.750
vitamins and minerals . It can be a

01:02:57.760 --> 01:03:00.169
tool for addressing global malnutrition

01:03:00.379 --> 01:03:03.239
and assuring food security . Our

01:03:03.250 --> 01:03:06.040
primary focus at rhizome is carbon ,

01:03:06.300 --> 01:03:08.022
the removal of carbon from the

01:03:08.022 --> 01:03:10.790
atmosphere and the long term storage of

01:03:10.800 --> 01:03:14.610
excuse me , I get choked up the long

01:03:14.620 --> 01:03:16.787
term storage of that carbon to keep it

01:03:16.787 --> 01:03:19.009
from getting back into the atmosphere .

01:03:20.010 --> 01:03:22.270
The bamboo building materials are

01:03:22.280 --> 01:03:26.120
making are making a really real

01:03:26.129 --> 01:03:28.351
storage mechanism for the co two that's

01:03:28.351 --> 01:03:30.750
captured by the bamboo plants . The

01:03:30.760 --> 01:03:33.500
tropical bamboo timber bamboos , they

01:03:33.510 --> 01:03:35.677
have a higher strength to weight ratio

01:03:35.677 --> 01:03:37.732
than steel and a greater compressive

01:03:37.732 --> 01:03:40.050
strength than concrete with a fraction

01:03:40.060 --> 01:03:42.879
of the weight . Bamboo is an amazing

01:03:42.889 --> 01:03:44.889
structural material . We're working

01:03:44.889 --> 01:03:47.056
with Skidmore Owings and Merrill , the

01:03:47.179 --> 01:03:49.346
architects for the Burj khalifa on the

01:03:49.346 --> 01:03:51.457
first high rise that will incorporate

01:03:51.457 --> 01:03:54.550
structural bamboo . The IE a projected

01:03:54.560 --> 01:03:56.782
that the square footage of buildings on

01:03:56.782 --> 01:03:59.060
earth will double in the next 40 years .

01:03:59.310 --> 01:04:00.977
Wood , steel and concrete are

01:04:00.977 --> 01:04:03.649
responsible for 25% of human emissions .

01:04:03.659 --> 01:04:05.620
Currently , we need to build

01:04:05.629 --> 01:04:08.649
differently engineered timber . Bamboo

01:04:08.659 --> 01:04:11.320
offers an alternative , rapid

01:04:11.330 --> 01:04:13.850
renewability and long term storage of

01:04:13.860 --> 01:04:17.860
carbon . The IPCC says we need to

01:04:17.870 --> 01:04:20.280
at least 10 gigatons of removal a year

01:04:20.290 --> 01:04:23.919
by 2050 and tropical bamboo with the

01:04:23.929 --> 01:04:25.929
support of the State Department and

01:04:25.929 --> 01:04:28.719
others can deliver that level of impact

01:04:29.540 --> 01:04:32.159
free enterprise . It's one of the great

01:04:32.169 --> 01:04:35.469
gifts of this wonderful country . We

01:04:35.479 --> 01:04:37.760
can save our climate and make money

01:04:37.770 --> 01:04:40.120
doing it . It's no longer business as

01:04:40.129 --> 01:04:41.989
usual . It's

01:04:43.449 --> 01:04:45.969
business is a climate solution and

01:04:45.979 --> 01:04:48.030
community upliftment and that's

01:04:48.040 --> 01:04:51.070
everybody's business . God bless the

01:04:51.080 --> 01:04:53.469
United States of America . God bless

01:04:53.479 --> 01:04:57.300
this beautiful planet and all of us who

01:04:57.310 --> 01:04:59.120
share it . Thank you ,

01:05:19.919 --> 01:05:22.919
David . That was uh amazing . Thank you

01:05:22.929 --> 01:05:26.389
so much for your remarks . And I

01:05:26.399 --> 01:05:29.739
think it really says we can uh to all

01:05:29.750 --> 01:05:32.530
of you businesses . Uh the work that's

01:05:32.540 --> 01:05:34.709
being done , good business and doing

01:05:34.719 --> 01:05:36.870
business really do go hand in hand .

01:05:36.879 --> 01:05:38.990
But the work that's being done around

01:05:38.990 --> 01:05:42.989
the world uh really is um amazing . I

01:05:43.000 --> 01:05:46.580
am really thrilled uh to uh join

01:05:46.590 --> 01:05:48.590
everybody in congratulating all the

01:05:48.590 --> 01:05:50.646
2024 Secretary of State's Awards for

01:05:50.646 --> 01:05:52.812
corporate excellent recipients . Thank

01:05:52.812 --> 01:05:53.812
you very much .

01:06:01.129 --> 01:06:03.590
And finally , it is my great pleasure

01:06:03.600 --> 01:06:05.711
to introduce the underst for economic

01:06:05.711 --> 01:06:07.711
growth , energy and the environment

01:06:07.711 --> 01:06:10.639
Jose Fernandez underst Fernandez stands

01:06:10.649 --> 01:06:12.538
at the center of the department's

01:06:12.538 --> 01:06:14.649
effort to support American businesses

01:06:14.649 --> 01:06:16.982
and American workers at home and abroad .

01:06:16.982 --> 01:06:18.705
Under his leadership , we have

01:06:18.705 --> 01:06:20.760
championed American companies around

01:06:20.760 --> 01:06:22.427
the world and made meaningful

01:06:22.427 --> 01:06:24.593
connections with the US private sector

01:06:24.593 --> 01:06:26.969
to assist them in addressing global

01:06:26.979 --> 01:06:29.949
challenges including in climate change ,

01:06:29.959 --> 01:06:32.500
inequality , supply chain disruptions ,

01:06:32.510 --> 01:06:34.750
food and energy security , mineral

01:06:34.760 --> 01:06:37.239
security and other key areas . As

01:06:37.250 --> 01:06:39.139
someone who has worked tirelessly

01:06:39.139 --> 01:06:41.306
supporting us businesses and advancing

01:06:41.306 --> 01:06:43.083
us commercial diplomacy . Under

01:06:43.083 --> 01:06:45.194
Secretary Fernandez has been involved

01:06:45.194 --> 01:06:47.417
in many ace ceremonies and it is now my

01:06:47.417 --> 01:06:49.528
great pleasure to welcome them to the

01:06:49.528 --> 01:06:51.417
podium to offer closing remarks .

01:07:01.260 --> 01:07:03.620
Good afternoon . Good afternoon . It's

01:07:03.629 --> 01:07:05.909
great to be here . Thank you . Thank

01:07:05.919 --> 01:07:08.252
you , Special Representative Morgenthal .

01:07:08.252 --> 01:07:10.586
Thank you , Sarah Amy . Good to see you .

01:07:10.586 --> 01:07:12.252
Uh Thank you all for the kind

01:07:12.252 --> 01:07:14.363
introduction and thanks to all of you

01:07:14.363 --> 01:07:16.475
for being here today and for those of

01:07:16.475 --> 01:07:18.586
you who are watching on live stream .

01:07:18.586 --> 01:07:21.290
Um I'd like to just um first of all

01:07:21.300 --> 01:07:24.270
congratulate the , the six winners uh

01:07:24.280 --> 01:07:27.030
after many years of seeing companies of

01:07:27.040 --> 01:07:29.790
all types uh receive this honor . Um

01:07:29.919 --> 01:07:32.510
This is our 25th year of having this

01:07:32.520 --> 01:07:34.742
award and I'm really excited to be here

01:07:34.742 --> 01:07:37.060
for the 25th anniversary , but I do

01:07:37.070 --> 01:07:39.879
have a complaint . I have a complaint

01:07:40.100 --> 01:07:42.469
which is at every , I've now done six

01:07:42.479 --> 01:07:45.290
of these at each one of them . I tend

01:07:45.300 --> 01:07:47.810
to close the ceremonies . I am the Grim

01:07:47.820 --> 01:07:50.229
Reaper . I end the festivities . This

01:07:50.239 --> 01:07:53.790
is a wonderful , a wonderful moment

01:07:53.810 --> 01:07:56.032
for us at the State Department . It's a

01:07:56.032 --> 01:07:58.229
great opportunity for us to honor

01:07:58.439 --> 01:08:00.949
companies that have done well and have

01:08:00.959 --> 01:08:03.939
really uh highlighted and , and stuck

01:08:03.949 --> 01:08:05.949
by the , the principles that we all

01:08:05.949 --> 01:08:09.189
hold dear . So please join me to uh for ,

01:08:09.199 --> 01:08:11.366
for one last round of applause for the

01:08:11.366 --> 01:08:11.229
six months .

01:08:18.099 --> 01:08:20.729
The the companies that we are honoring

01:08:20.738 --> 01:08:23.079
today showcase the best in , in , in

01:08:23.088 --> 01:08:25.199
American innovation and values . They

01:08:25.199 --> 01:08:26.977
demonstrate that businesses can

01:08:26.979 --> 01:08:29.146
flourish while being in corporate role

01:08:29.146 --> 01:08:30.812
models . The shared values of

01:08:30.812 --> 01:08:33.039
protecting our planet , of our , of

01:08:33.048 --> 01:08:35.104
helping our workers , of helping our

01:08:35.104 --> 01:08:37.270
local communities are at the forefront

01:08:37.270 --> 01:08:39.159
of the operations of all of these

01:08:39.159 --> 01:08:41.509
companies around the world . Uh You uh

01:08:41.520 --> 01:08:43.631
you will have heard uh my colleague ,

01:08:43.631 --> 01:08:46.370
Deputy Secretary Campbell say uh that

01:08:46.379 --> 01:08:48.546
the global challenges that we all face

01:08:48.870 --> 01:08:51.229
uh cannot be solved by governments

01:08:51.240 --> 01:08:53.639
alone . This job makes you humble and

01:08:53.648 --> 01:08:56.048
but that's why the partnership between

01:08:56.059 --> 01:08:58.208
us companies and the State Department

01:08:58.219 --> 01:09:00.163
is so crucial to advance our , our

01:09:00.163 --> 01:09:02.679
foreign policy . We know we know that

01:09:02.688 --> 01:09:04.898
American companies are among the best

01:09:04.909 --> 01:09:07.076
and most innovative in the world . And

01:09:07.076 --> 01:09:09.131
we know that they are among the best

01:09:09.131 --> 01:09:10.909
equipped to contribute creative

01:09:10.909 --> 01:09:13.395
solutions , the tools and the resources

01:09:13.404 --> 01:09:15.725
of the private sector coupled with

01:09:15.734 --> 01:09:17.790
their commitment to doing well while

01:09:17.790 --> 01:09:19.845
serving the public goods . Exactly

01:09:19.964 --> 01:09:22.964
exactly why American companies I think

01:09:22.975 --> 01:09:25.365
are the uh this is an easy job in many

01:09:25.375 --> 01:09:27.597
ways because American companies are the

01:09:27.597 --> 01:09:29.653
world's business partner of choice .

01:09:29.653 --> 01:09:31.653
And that's why we are honoring them

01:09:31.653 --> 01:09:33.764
today . We want every year we want to

01:09:33.764 --> 01:09:35.999
see more and more of them . Here at the

01:09:36.008 --> 01:09:38.341
State Department , we work every day to ,

01:09:38.341 --> 01:09:40.452
to promote a friendly environment for

01:09:40.452 --> 01:09:42.818
businesses operating uh abroad . When

01:09:42.829 --> 01:09:44.885
we work with the private sector , we

01:09:44.885 --> 01:09:47.159
learn how to combine our tools and try

01:09:47.168 --> 01:09:49.369
to , to , to outmaneuver the

01:09:49.378 --> 01:09:51.559
competition . And at the same time ,

01:09:51.568 --> 01:09:53.798
share our values in every corner of the

01:09:53.809 --> 01:09:56.370
globe and whether it's protecting

01:09:56.399 --> 01:09:58.970
economic freedom for women in Ethiopia

01:09:59.689 --> 01:10:02.790
or keeping our planet safe in Surinam

01:10:02.799 --> 01:10:05.021
American companies , like the ones that

01:10:05.021 --> 01:10:07.021
we have recognized this afternoon ,

01:10:07.021 --> 01:10:08.910
have a track record of addressing

01:10:08.910 --> 01:10:10.632
critical issues and innovative

01:10:10.632 --> 01:10:12.632
solutions and local communities and

01:10:12.632 --> 01:10:14.799
keeping it our , our principles at the

01:10:14.799 --> 01:10:17.350
forefront of all that they do . This is

01:10:17.359 --> 01:10:20.299
why Sara's office and why the Office of ,

01:10:20.310 --> 01:10:22.532
of , of Commercial and Business Affairs

01:10:22.532 --> 01:10:24.699
and our government agency colleagues ,

01:10:24.699 --> 01:10:26.970
many of whom uh I see in the audience

01:10:26.979 --> 01:10:29.201
um from ambassadors who've come all the

01:10:29.201 --> 01:10:31.368
way from the Philippines from Suriname

01:10:31.368 --> 01:10:33.646
and elsewhere to honor their companies .

01:10:33.646 --> 01:10:35.479
That's why our government agency

01:10:35.479 --> 01:10:37.646
colleagues . That's where at the State

01:10:37.646 --> 01:10:39.868
Department , we work hard to connect us

01:10:39.868 --> 01:10:41.923
businesses to foreign markets and to

01:10:41.923 --> 01:10:43.868
help highlight us companies as the

01:10:43.868 --> 01:10:46.939
partners of choice . Last March a few

01:10:46.950 --> 01:10:49.500
months ago , I I proudly joined other

01:10:49.509 --> 01:10:51.565
members of the administration in the

01:10:51.565 --> 01:10:53.787
roll out of something we're calling the

01:10:53.787 --> 01:10:55.970
second US national action plan on

01:10:55.979 --> 01:10:58.520
responsible business conduct . This is

01:10:58.529 --> 01:11:00.859
a a set of government commitments to

01:11:00.870 --> 01:11:03.060
promote responsible business uh uh

01:11:03.069 --> 01:11:05.660
practices for our companies . We've

01:11:05.669 --> 01:11:08.779
also enhanced the US national contact

01:11:09.484 --> 01:11:11.234
for the OECD guidelines for

01:11:11.245 --> 01:11:13.794
multinational enterprises to act as a

01:11:13.805 --> 01:11:16.015
contact point to receive comments and

01:11:16.024 --> 01:11:18.024
complaints about the conduct of our

01:11:18.035 --> 01:11:20.654
companies . Uh So we , we've enhanced

01:11:20.665 --> 01:11:22.665
this national contact point to , to

01:11:22.665 --> 01:11:25.084
work with businesses , to work with NGO

01:11:25.095 --> 01:11:27.495
S , to work with labor unions , to

01:11:27.504 --> 01:11:29.671
encourage responsible business conduct

01:11:29.671 --> 01:11:32.194
among us companies operating overseas .

01:11:32.939 --> 01:11:35.339
So through the challenges that we face

01:11:35.350 --> 01:11:37.183
are complex , I'm confident that

01:11:37.183 --> 01:11:39.239
through innovative and and principal

01:11:39.239 --> 01:11:41.709
solutions and our continued partnership ,

01:11:42.149 --> 01:11:44.790
no challenge is impossible to overcome .

01:11:45.410 --> 01:11:47.669
So to everyone here and to all those

01:11:47.680 --> 01:11:49.736
who are joining on our live stream .

01:11:49.736 --> 01:11:51.791
Thank you . Thank you for taking the

01:11:51.791 --> 01:11:53.736
time to recognize the good work of

01:11:53.736 --> 01:11:55.959
these remarkable American companies .

01:11:56.169 --> 01:11:58.280
And so please join me one last time ,

01:11:58.750 --> 01:12:00.979
one last time in extending our sincere

01:12:00.990 --> 01:12:01.669
gratitude .

01:12:09.919 --> 01:12:11.697
Thank you and congratulations .

01:12:22.640 --> 01:12:22.810
Five .