Speeches

Few industries have the power to transform a country in the way that extraction does.  The wealth that lies beneath our feet can power industries the world over and unlock massive amounts of capital.  In the United States, the gold and oil rushes of the 19th century still resonate today.  And just as in every country that has experienced that sort of dynamic, those effects have been positive and negative, and utterly transformative in ways that are almost beyond understanding.  As Uganda prepares to deepen its development in the oil and gas sector and other extractives industries, it faces great opportunity and profound responsibility.

USAID is the development arm of the U.S. Government. In India, we work in partnership with the Government of India to support its development goals. Our work focuses primarily on delivering quality healthcare, education, safe water, clean energy, sustainable forests, gender equality agriculture and reducing the risk of disasters to a fast growing population. We work in these sectors to contribute to India’s priority development initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Call to Action to End TB, and Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat. These goals are, of course, closely tied to the global sustainable development goals. Padhe Bharat Bhadhe Bharat is unequivocally linked to the “Quality Education” and “Reduced Inequalities” sustainable development goals.  In the same way that all the SDGs and Government of India development priorities are interlinked and cross-sectoral, so too, should be the efforts to achieve them.

As educators, you all know how critical reading skills are to establishing the foundations for successful learning and supporting development. Those skills enable the wonder and joy that can come through education, and they are best acquired at an early age. Albert Einstein made the point in a beautiful expression as follows: “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”  As teachers, educators, administrators and policy makers, we owe it to our young learners to help them acquire the spark that unleashes their creative spirits and talents.

Acting DG Toni, Representatives of the Department of Social Services, and all workshop organizers and participants, good morning. It is a pleasure to join you for in opening this event. It is another milestone in the U. S. Agency for International Development’ partnership with the government of South Africa and its Department for Social Development in pursuit of the millennial goals for curbing HIVAIDS.