Ambassador Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Martinez at the YouthIT Closing Ceremony

Lusaka
April 13, 2007

 The Honorable Angela Cifire, Minister of Health;
Mr. Patrick Colemen; Rotary District Governor
Mr. Ghazi Hussain; Chair of YouthIT Zambia Advisory Board
Members of Rotary Club of Lusaka;
YouthIT participants;
Members of the press;
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

I am very proud to be here today to celebrate the successful YouthIT Zambia Project, and to honor all of you here today who are completing this exciting and innovative program. I also congratulate the participants in the business plan competition. I understand the competition yielded some fantastic plans.

The skills that YouthIT promotes are ones that you will find absolutely essential to succeed in your future. I am proud that the U.S. Government, through the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, has been partnered with Rotary Clubs to promote youth employment, youth-led business creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills here in Zambia, and indeed throughout Africa. I am a big believer in Zambia’s potential for economic growth and development. Hopefully, as the next generation of Zambian business leaders, you will help to continue and accelerate the pace of reforms that are needed to spur the growth that Zambia is capable of achieving.

I salute the efforts of the Rotary Club of Lusaka. As many of you know, the Rotarians’ mottos are “Service about Self” and “They profit most who serve best.” Not only do Rotary Clubs uphold these values around the world, they are values that will serve you well — in business, and more importantly, in life. I was pleased to learn that a component of this training was developing personal goals and visions. If you don’t know where you want to go you will never get there. Likewise, as future Zambian business leaders, you must have a vision for the future of your country’s business climate.

I am also proud of the variety of ways that my government is working together with our Zambian counterparts to improve Zambia’s business climate. Our Treasury Department has representatives here, working closely with Zambian financial institutions to increase efficiency. Our USAID Economic Growth team works closely with the Government of Zambia to reduce bureaucratic, administrative and trade barriers that limit private sector potential. This team focuses on increasing private sector competitiveness. When the private sector is more competitive, products are more affordable, more desirable, and in higher demand. The result is increased trade, leading directly to job creation and better incomes across society.

When Zambia is more competitive, Zambia does more business and when Zambia does more business, the Government is able to broaden its tax base and pay for services that contribute to social welfare — which means better schools, better health care, better roads, the expansion of electricity and more clean water. In short, everybody wins when Zambia is better able to compete in the domestic and international marketplaces. Another program that the U.S. Government has inaugurated here in Zambia has huge implications for all of the positive things I just list — it’s the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. I hope that many of you have heard of the MCA Threshold Program.

I am encouraged that the business environment you enter will already be markedly improved to that which exists today. Two weeks ago our colleagues at USAID hosted a high level delegation from the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Our visitors were here to see for themselves the improvements that your government have made which will enable Zambia to be much more business friendly. The reports from the MCC officials were very encouraging. Zambia’s Threshold Program is focused on tackling barriers that inhibit trade and investment, removing bottlenecks, and promoting transparency in business practices. One key aspect of the Program is fighting corruption. Success in this program will mean a greatly improved business climate, and improvements in investments and trade, all of which will drive economic growth.

The great news is this: In less than a year the Zambian Government has utilized the tools provided through the MCA Threshold program to initiate a number of substantial institutional reforms that will transform the Zambian business environment and enhance transparency. As future business leaders, you must make sure that you continue to build on the positive changes that are happening now.

I congratulate, in advance, the winners, and indeed all of the participants, in the YouthIT business competition. Young entrepreneurs are vital in any society. I hope you will be able to take the momentum you’ve reached with this competition, and continue to strive for success. I understand that your plans, which were products of your originality and teamwork, were well conceived and executed. They reflect your grasp of the reality of the economic situation in Zambia and your analysis of opportunities that can be exploited. They will be exploited, with the energy and enthusiasm and intelligence you have brought to this project over the past year.

Congratulations. And thank you very much, for asking me to be a part of this wonderful program.