Speeches
U.S. Consul General Sharon Anderholm Wiener's Welcome Remarks at Clean Energy Technologies Conference
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
January 29 – 30, 2008
January 29 – 30, 2008
Distinguished Guests:
I’m delighted to be here today to welcome you on behalf of the U.S. Mission in Turkey to this important forum which brings together experts and policy makers. Ambassador Wilson would have liked to be here as well, but he’s in Washington today attending bilateral meetings on another issue. He sends his greetings and his best wishes for a successful conference.
This conference is an important part of our bilateral cooperation with Turkey. It’s one result of last November’s successful meeting between our Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Minister Hilmi Guler. Because of them, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the US Department of Energy agreed to jointly sponsor this conference. My thanks go out to Secretary Bodman, Minister Guler and everyone from their organizations who worked hard to make this conference possible.
TUBITAK also contributed significantly to making this conference possible. Finally, I want to extend thanks to the organizational sponsors: ATC and DEIK/TAIK. While there isn’t time to name everyone who helped put this conference together, I would like to extend a special thanks to Doug Hartman of ATC who has worked as the overall conference coordinator, without whom, we would not be here today.
Standing here, I am impressed with the turnout. Both the number and caliber of people here is quite remarkable. Leaders and experts from government, businesses, and NGOs have come together to discuss exciting new developments in clean energy. It is truly inspiring to see all of you eager to work together on this issue.
I am looking forward to learning about the innovative projects in wind, solar, hydro, and clear coal power generation that the Department of Energy is developing through its National Laboratories. We are fortunate to have Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Policy Alan Hegburg from the Department of Energy here today to lead the discussion on these new technologies.
This conference is an opportunity to share these new technologies with the Government of Turkey and with the private sector. We hope that sharing information on these technologies and hearing from our Turkish colleagues about Turkey’s energy sector development will spur new investments in Turkey’s energy sector.
I see this conference as a model for bringing together public and private sectors. Each has a role to play in energy sector development. The government can set the overall policy direction, set standards and regulations, and expand infrastructure. Government can also nurture the investment climate, by supporting research and development. Government can create a skilled and educated workforce through a strong university system.
The private sector, on the other hand can open a dialogue with the government about its policy direction. Working with government, the private sector can efficiently develop new sources of clean energy. The need for clear energy provides dynamic opportunities for those companies ready to face the challenge. Private capital can nurture promising new technologies through investments. The best ideas, the best designs, the most innovative solutions are rewarded by the private sector. Through competition, the private sector is creating cleaner energy for more people.
In Turkey, energy is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy and we are confident energy will continue to be an important component of Turkey’s growth engine. We know that additional investment is very much needed.
I anticipate that this conference will lead to new partnerships and highlight new areas for cooperation to help Turkey met its investment demand in the energy sector.
I’d now like to turn the podium over to my good friend Rona Yircali, Chairman of the Executive Board of DEIK one of the sponsors of today’s conference. Rona is a strong supporter of public-private collaboration and he and his organization have been particularly sensitive to the benefits of deepening economic collaboration between Turkey and the US in all sectors and at all levels.
Thank you.