Blog: Strengthening Our International Partnerships

Statement

Last evening, I had the honor of hosting the members of the first-ever U.S.- Balkans Business Summit at Government House. I joined with Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic, Bosnia and Herezgovina President Bakir Izetbegovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs for Macedonia Vladimir Peshevski, Deputy Prime Minister of Trade and Industry for the Republic of Kosovo Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and many other special guests as we prepare for the start of the summit, which will bring together government and business leaders from the U.S. and the Western Balkans.

Maryland has a long history of partnership and friendship with the Western Balkans. Beginning nearly 20 years ago, our State became the first to reach out to Slovenia after U.S. recognition in 1992. And because we believe in the potential of the Western Balkans region, we opened a business office in the Western Balkans in 2008.

I am so glad that these leaders truly share a belief that the connections we make -- both internationally and between private and public sectors -- are vital to moving forward in this changing new economy.

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