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- इसका हिस्सा Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Clinton Administration), Harold Ickes, Jr.'s Files
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OCR Page 1 of 9Ohrenster Inan Free
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 24, 1995
The Honorable Manfred Ohrenstein
Ohrenstein & Brown
230 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10169-0103
Dear Fred:
Thank you for your letter and your complimentary comments on the recent White
House Conference on Trade and Investment in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This
Administration firmly believes that CEE, with its emerging democracies, represents one of the
best opportunities for American commercial interests in the world today.
I am pleased to hear that you are interested in supporting the Administration's efforts
by organizing a follow-up conference in New York. Follow-up activities are a key component
of the White House Conference, and conferences such as the one you propose are ideally
suited to build upon the momentum generated in Cleveland.
At the Conference, we launched a number of initiatives across the U.S. Government to
promote trade and investment. Ruth Harkin, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
President, signed commitments for two new equity funds that could support over $3 billion in
business ventures for CEE. Ken Brody, Export-Import Bank Chairman, announced that the
Bank will provide a new U.S.-CEE export financing program and will finance CEE companies'
purchases of U.S. goods from producers directly rather than through governments. In addition,
the Department of Commerce will enhance current services to the region through its Central
and Eastern Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC) and will add a small business
facility to the CEEBIC to provide additional assistance to U.S. small businesses interested in
the region.
Please keep me informed of the progress you make in planning your conference.
Although we cannot offer financial support, there may be other ways that we might be able to
assist.
Sincerely,
How Das
Harold Ickes
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff