United States diplomat visits Pakistan

Islamabad, October 12, 2012 (PPI-OT): Alec Ross, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s top “Digital Diplomat,” visited Pakistan this week to share his experiences on the use of technology and fostering innovation with members of the Pakistani government including Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

Mr. Ross, who serves as Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary Clinton, was invited to Pakistan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to discuss areas of common interest at the intersection of technology and foreign policy. During his visit, Ross also will meet with young Pakistani educators, innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss the role of innovation in the future of Pakistan.

“I am very pleased to be able to visit and exchange views with a diverse group of Pakistanis, all of whom share a commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future,” said Ross. “Pakistan produces great engineers and entrepreneurs. Every time I travel to Silicon Valley, I meet someone from Pakistan. This can be a key to Pakistan’s future.”

At the Department of State, Ross is tasked with maximizing the potential of technology and innovation in service of America’s diplomatic goals. Before joining the Department of State, Mr. Ross served on President Barack Obama’s successful 2008 election campaign, where he served as the Convener for Obama for America’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Policy Committee.

In 2000, Mr. Ross helped to found the non-profit organization One Economy and grew it from modest origins in a basement into a global organization serving millions of low-income people, with programs on four continents.

Among recent recognitions, Alec was named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy Magazine, one of Huffington Posts’ 10 Game Changers in Politics, one of Newsweek’s 10 Navigators on its 100 Digital Power Index, a Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award honouree, a “game changer” as one of Politicos 50 To Watch and the 2010 Middle East/North Africa Technology Person of the Year by the Union of Arab ICT organizations.

For more information, contact:
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov