Secretary Clinton Announces Partners for A New Beginning with Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Walter Isaacson, and Barclay Resler at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, April 27, 2010.
In his "A New Beginning" speech on June 4, 2009, at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, President of the United States Barack Obama stated "I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings." During the speech, he also committed to "host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world".[1]
In an official signing ceremony in conjunction with the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship on April 27, 2010, the U.S. Department of State entered into a partnership with Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) - a group of eminent Americans from a variety of sectors who will reach out systematically to private sector entities at the highest level to harness private sector resources and capabilities to advance New Beginning programs and goals. This partnership was officially announced during Secretary Clinton's remarks at the close of the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship.[2]
As Secretary Clinton explained at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, "For example, they might reach out to companies to provide equipment and technology for the Scientific Centers of Excellence overseas, or help launch internships and mentoring programs for emerging business leaders, or encourage angel investors in this country to partner with angel investors abroad. Through collaborations like these, Partners for a New Beginning will deepen ties between our people and institutions, and give more Americans the chance to contribute to this common endeavor."[2]
Steering committee members
On September 22, 2010, PNB inaugurated the full PNB Steering Committee and announced the following commitment:
Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) commits to broaden and deepen engagement between the U.S. and international Muslim communities by building public-private partnerships that advance economic opportunity, science and technology, education, and exchange. Over the next five years, these partnerships will increase access to financing, business capacity and development services, improve educational opportunities for students and teachers, foster physical and virtual exchange programs, and enhance science and technology solutions that will positively impact up to 500,000 people across PNB targeted countries.[3]
On Tuesday, May 31, 2011, the Aspen Institute announced the following members at large[5] – organizations committed to working with other partners and PNB Local Chapters to carry out targeted and set revenue-generating and/or philanthropic commitments for the benefit of Muslim communities in PNB targeted countries.
President Obama, during his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 9, 2010, stated that "Many of the partnerships I’ve mentioned are a direct result of my call in Cairo for a new beginning between the United States and Muslim communities around the world. And it involves the private sector as well, thanks to efforts like Partners for a New Beginning, which is forging partnerships around science, education and entrepreneurship."[6]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during the launch of PNB at the White House on April 27, 2010, said, "I think that this is one of those occasions in the diplomatic history of our country that we will look back on and say that that made a difference.... Partners for a New Beginning will tap into the dynamism and innovation of U.S. industry in a number of ways—for example, by encouraging companies to contribute equipment or technology to the Centers of Scientific Excellence we are developing overseas, or by facilitating partnerships between universities here and those abroad to share knowledge and improve business education. They will also encourage investors and mentors in the United States to recognize the tremendous potential that resides in Muslim-majority communities, where many entrepreneurs are working against significant obstacles to turn their dreams into reality."[7]
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, during the launch of PNB at the White House on April 27, 2010, said, "These projects can go much further to strengthening the bonds between the United States and the citizens of Muslim-majority nations, and to do so based on a philosophy – and I think we should keep repeating these words – mutual understanding, mutual interests, and mutual respect... I did learn ... the real importance about public-private partnerships and the great difference that can be made when businesses get involved with nongovernmental organizations and the government in order to really propel issues forward."[7]
Assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs Jose Fernandez, wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "America's culture of entrepreneurship is not only one of our country's greatest assets, it's one of our easiest exports to sell… Our North African partnership supports the development of such an entrepreneurial culture by connecting entrepreneurs, investors, universities and foundations in the U.S. and the Maghreb. It also fosters ministerial policy dialogues—about best practices, increased economic integration and the like—between U.S. and North African officials. Our goal is to build a network that will include 100,000 people in the Maghreb in the next five years. We want to help turn the social drive that fueled the Arab Spring into an entrepreneurial fire that fulfills its aspirations by creating jobs."[8]
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