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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Remarks by Acting Administrator Barbara Turner
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
Thursday, May 24, 2001
Thank you, Ambassador Itoh. On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, I am honored to be here this morning at this interagency celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.
My congratulations to the equal employment offices at the State Department, Defense Department and USAID, and the Asian-Pacific American Federal Foreign Affairs Council, for organizing this commemorative program. This annual event is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the accomplishments of Americans of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry. It is a welcome reminder of the deep and lasting role Asians played in the development of this great nation.
What strikes me the most is the incredible diversity of this community. Asian and Pacific Americans come from nearly fifty countries and ethnic groups, each with distinct cultures, traditions and histories, and more than a hundred different languages and dialects.
That diversity adds to our country's own colorful culture and heritage.
My own agency relies on the important work of our Asian-Pacific American employees. They are prominent in technical, professional, and administrative positions in both the foreign service and civil service, and they are critical to the success of USAID's programs all around the world.
What many of you may not know is that USAID is the primary U.S. Government agency working to help people around the world and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. We are there because the stability and growth of this very large and diverse region is essential to U.S. security and prosperity. After Europe, the Asia and Pacific region is the second most important market for U.S. goods and services. And our Defense Department colleagues will tell you the critical importance of our Asian and Pacific military allies.
As important is the key role the Asian countries have played in finding innovative solutions to world development problems. Working together, the U.S. and Asian countries have been important sources of new technologies for poor people around the world. For example, agricultural research sponsored by the United States and India sparked the "Green Revolution." Breakthroughs in agricultural technology resulted in the most dramatic increase in agricultural production in the history of mankind, allowing nations like India and Bangladesh to become nearly food self-sufficient. The Philippines is now producing new rice varieties that the U.S., Asia and the world are benefiting from. Many innovations in coastal management and preserving fish populations have been developed in Asia.
The U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership fosters collaboration between U.S. and Asian governments, NGOs, educational institutions, and businesses to promote environmentally sustainable development. Forty-eight U.S. states participate in the Partnership program, producing $1.1 billion in U.S. exports of environmental technology and expertise to improve environmental management in Asia.
Some of the greatest success stories of American foreign aid are in Asia, such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Now, these countries are becoming donors of foreign assistance in their own right. We welcome their partnership in the development community.
These successes in Asia and the Pacific have become models for USAID's work in other parts of the world.
As great as the successes are, the challenges that remain are enormous. In South and East Asia, nearly a billion people live on less than a dollar a day. Conflicts in a number of countries throughout the region cause displacement and suffering. Sixty-three percent of the world's infant deaths occur in Asia. Cambodia has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the region - 2.4 percent of adults infected, and growing.
USAID will continue its commitment to this region - addressing humanitarian needs, supporting conflict prevention and democratic transition, promoting sustainable economic growth, improving mother-child health, and tackling HIV/AIDS.
USAID will also continue to lead the attack in this region on the reprehensible practice of trafficking in women and girls.
Let me underscore the crucial role that Americans of Asian and Pacific heritage play in USAID's development mission. You are uniquely situated to make a difference, as Americans rooted in two cultures. You can serve as development leaders and as teachers, helping people understand through your own experiences the importance of strong democratic and economic institutions to support sustainable development.
Diversity is part and parcel of USAID's work around the world - we strive to assure that under-served populations, minority and ethnic groups have access to economic and social opportunities. And, therefore, USAID cannot be a credible force for change overseas without diversity in our own workforce. You can help. USAID is hiring - both Foreign Service and Civil Service positions. I hope you will be excited by the work of USAID and will help us find people interested in USAID's work so we can expand the access of Americans of Asian and Pacific heritage to these job opportunities - you can find job information on our website at www.usaid.gov.
I assure you that USAID is committed to maintaining its leadership in promoting diversity and equal opportunity in its employment and programs. Thank you again for inviting us to speak to you today.
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Last Updated on: January 02, 2009 |
