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United States Signs Trade and Investment Agreement with the Maldives

 
 TIFA signing with (R-L seated) Deputy
 Chief of Mission Valerie Fowler, Assistant
 United States Trade Representative for
South and Central Asia Michael Delaney
 and Minister of Economic Development
 Mohamed Rasheed

Male, the Maldives - The United States has signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in Male providing a forum for the Maldives and the United States to examine ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

U.S. goods exports to Maldives in 2008 were $20 million, an increase of 5% from 2007. U.S. exports to the Maldives consist largely of chemicals, storage devices, aircraft parts and floor coverings. U.S. goods imports from the Maldives in 2008 were $4 million, consisting primarily of fish and organic chemicals.

The TIFA, signed by Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Michael Delaney and Maldives Minister for Economic Development Mohamed Rasheed, will establish a regular United States-Maldives Council in which high level officials from each country will meet to address a wide range of trade and investment issues including market access, intellectual property, labor, and the environment. (more)

Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis presents her credentials to His Excellency, President Mohamed Nasheed 

 
 Ambassador Partricia A. Butenis
U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis presented her credentials as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives on October 1, 2009 to His Excellency, President Mohamed Nasheed.

Patricia A. Butenis was nominated by President Barack Obama as the U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives on May 27, 2009. She was confirmed by the Senate on August 4, 2009 and sworn in on August 19, 2009. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister-Counselor.

Prior to this assignment, Ambassador Butenis served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2007-2009. From 2006-2007, she served as Ambassador to Bangladesh and from 2004-2006 as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. (more)

Transcript of Ambassador Patricia Butenis' Remarks to the Maldivian Press following her Presentation of Credentials.

Other News From VPP

American Corner Male’ Hosts a Public Lecture for Library Staff on Emerging Trends in Libraries

 
 Participants at the lecture on Emerging
 Trends in Libraries
Mr. Steve Kerchoff, Information Resource Officer with U.S. Embassy New Delhi presented ‘Emerging Trends in Libraries’ on October 26, 2009 at the American Corner Male’. Approximately 42 librarians from different school libraries and from the National Library attended the lecture.The positive feedback received from the participants established the program as a success.

Mr. Kerchoff gave a broad presentation on Web 2.0, Sister Libraries, International Collaborations within libraries, and social networking tools like Blog, Twitter, Facebook, America.gov platforms, video web chats and explained how to participate in them as many of the technologies are not popularly known or used.

The program also promoted the American Corner lecture series and the resources available to library professionals for reference.

American Corner Male’ Hosts Program to Promote Reading among Children

 
 Participants at the session on promoting
 reading among children
On October 26, 2009, the American Corner Male’ held an interactive session on library usage to popularize reading among school children. The one-hour session led by Mr. Steve Kerchoff, Information Resource Officer with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi generated much interest among the children whose active participation was evident in the discussions and numerous questions raised. Thirty three participants that included children and teachers from different schools attended the session.

The program also promoted the use of the American Corner resources and facilities to help build awareness on library usage among children. 

Latest News on South and Central Asia

- U. S. Missions -
• U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka

- On the Record -
"We recognize that the relationship
 between the United States and
Muslim communities has at times
suffered from misunderstanding. 
 But we are committed to learning 
 and listening, to creating bridges 
 of understanding and respect and 
 building stronger bonds of
 cooperation. "
 - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
 Rodham Clinton, September 15,
2009
 Related Link:
 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at
 State Department Iftar Dinner

- Blog: Talking Faith -

Express your views on topics
like freedom of faith and
religious identity. Come join 
the discussion.  
Related Link: 
"Islam Around the World"
 flickr group

- Special Feature -
 
 Democracy is ...
Hailing from various walks of life and different political regimes, see what democracy means to the winners of the Democracy Video Challenge
(view winners and videos)

- U.S. Links -

• The White House
• Department of State
• America.gov


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