U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks about the important role Global Entrepreneurship Week plays in fostering the ideas and innovation needed to expand human welfare.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a public statement of support for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009, a world-wide celebration of creativity and innovation taking place November 16–22. Secretary Clinton praised Global Entrepreneurship Week as a way to create new opportunities and businesses, encourage youth to pursue fresh ideas, and improve the global economy.

Quoting President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address, Secretary Clinton reconfirmed the administration's commitment to boosting entrepreneurship both in the United States and in other countries, where talent is widespread, but opportunity often is not. Secretary Clinton also praised the Kauffman Foundation, a co-founder of the Week, for its efforts to foster growth and opportunity during a difficult economic time.

"The Kauffman Foundation is committed to fostering growth and innovation through entrepreneurship," said Carl Schramm, Kauffman's president and CEO. "Secretary Clinton’s support for Global Entrepreneurship Week sends a powerful message to the world that entrepreneurs are key to creating the innovations, jobs and growth that will lead us out of this recession and on the road to economic recovery."

During the world's most innovative week, Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 will introduce millions of young people around the world to entrepreneurship and encourage them to think of innovation as a vehicle that can take them anywhere.

In 2008, its inaugural year, Global Entrepreneurship Week involved more than 3 million participants, 100 countries, 25,000 activities, and 8,800 partners. With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week encouraged youth to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, and to make their mark. Partners from more than 77 countries around the world participated, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Uganda. Organizations, ranging from large non-governmental to small community-based groups, held activities. The roster of participating countries and partner organizations included many countries with severe economic challenges, suggesting a worldwide understanding of the value of entrepreneurship.

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 promises to be even bigger. A growing coalition of organizations is actively planning the Week in more than 75 countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week will bring ideas to light and link them with enterprising, eager young minds.

With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week will encourage youth to think big, turn their ideas into reality, and make their mark. From Nov. 16-22, 2009, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and seek better ways of doing things. Tens of thousands of activities are being planned in dozens of countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week is founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in the United States and Make Your Mark, a business-led government-backed campaign in the United Kingdom.

For more information, or to view a complete list of participating countries and organizations, visit www.unleashingideas.org and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

Source: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation