The Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) Launches in Ramallah

The Honorable Mahmoud Abbas, President, Palestinian National Authority; the Honorable Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister, Palestinian National Authority; the Honorable Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Robert Mosbacher Jr., President and CEO, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); and Berl Bernhard, Chairman, Middle East Investment Initiative and a trustee and past-chairman of the Aspen Institute, all gathered in Ramallah in the West Bank on July 25th at the official signing ceremony to launch the Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII).

An innovative public-private partnership between the Aspen Institute, OPIC, and the Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF), MEII is a $228 million loan guarantee program dedicated to helping improve the livelihoods of the Palestinian people. This program is part of a broader effort to help the Palestinians create a more prosperous economic, political and secure future.

• Voice of America's article on MEII, plus a sound file, August 2, 2007
  
  
• "New Loan Opportunities Within Reach of Palestinian Entrepreneurs," USINFO, August 3, 2007
  
  
• MEII article in Al-Quds newspaper, July 26, 2007
  
  
• MEII Chairman Berl Bernhard's Op-Ed in the Aspen Times
  
  
• State Department Fact Sheet, 7-30-07
  
  
• ABC News, 7-16-07 - "Bush Announces Mideast Peace Conference"
  
  
• Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Remarks at the launch of the Middle East Investment Initiative, 7-25-07
  
  
• State Department Press Release, 7-25-07 - Launch of the Middle East Investment Initiative Program
  
  
• American Task Force on Palestine’s (ATFP) release on MEII, 7-25-07
  
  
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies MEII coverage, 7-25-07
  
  
• Scoop News, 7-26-07 – "U.S. State: New Opportunities In The Middle East"
  
  
• GulfNews.com, 7-26-07 – "Time to call for fresh elections, says Abbas"
  
  
• Next Century Foundation, 7-26-07 – "Middle East Investment Programme"
  

MEII partners sign the Framework Agreement at the MEII launch in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.	MEII Chairman Berl Bernhard and Dr. Muhammad Mustafa (PIF) shake hands during the MEII signing ceremony in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.
Ambassador Karen Hughes comments during the MEII signing ceremony in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.	Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, CEO of the Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF) opens the MEII signing ceremony in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.
MEII Chairman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands as OPIC President and CEO Robert Mosbacher Jr. looks on.	MEII Executive Director Toni Verstandig, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S.Consulate General in JerusalemJacob Walles, at the MEII launch in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.
MEII Chairman Berl Bernhard speaks during the MEII signing ceremony in Ramallah on July 25, 2007.