Kerry Urges Entrepreneurs To Tackle Global Challenges

From Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar PALO ALTO, California June 24 ( Bernama) -- US Secretary of State, John Kerry, wants technology entrepreneurs to address violent extremism, climate change and combat corruption. "You may not believe that these issues automatically fall within your responsibility, but let me tell you, we need your creativity in order to address each and every one of them," he said. "You have a fundamental interest in how these questions are answered, because you want to be able to operate a business without fear of terrorist attack. "You want to be able to take advantage of the great economic openings in clean energy market. You want to be able to open your enterprises without having to pay bribe or be dependent on making friends in high places," he said at the opening of the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) here Friday. He said the Obama Administration supported entrepreneurs and made it a top priority in his diplomacy and foreign policy. Kerry said the State Department worked directly with entrepreneurs overseas by establishing centres in Pakistan, Cambodia, Zambia and Kenya that provided training, mentorship and access to technology to women entrepreneurs. The department has also dedicated resources to help the next generation of innovators in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam and help them preserve that area as well as to grow startups. "We have literally brought thousands of entrepreneurs together at each GES, and as I mentioned, this will continue beyond President Obama’s presidency next year in India," Kerry said to over 700 entrepreneurs and more than 300 investors attending the summit. Obama will speak at the three-day summit ending on Friday. -- BERNAMA