WASHINGTON, April 21, 2003 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named Dan Amstutz to lead the U.S. Government's agriculture reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Amstutz will serve as senior ministry advisor for agriculture in the rebuilding effort and will coordinate the U.S. Government activities in the sector.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to draw upon someone with Dan Amstutz's background and experience for this extremely important task," said Veneman. "He will help us achieve our national objective of creating a democratic and prosperous Iraq while at the same time best utilize the resources of our farmers and food industry in the effort, both in the interim and for the longer term."
USDA has a key role in the U.S. Government's overall efforts to create a democratic, market driven economy in Iraq. Numerous experts in a wide variety of fields from both the USDA and the private sector will assist in the effort. Amstutz will serve as a liaison between Secretary Veneman and military officials overseeing the rebuilding effort.
Amstutz will join other U.S. Government representatives in the region immediately and will coordinate activities with coalition partners. He is president of Amstutz & Company, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting practice, specializing in agribusiness and international trade issues.
Amstutz's career has spanned both the private sector and government giving him wide familiarity with markets, international commerce and government programs facilitating economic development. He has had extensive experience in managing organizations and with commodity merchandising and international trading. He has held positions with Cargill; Goldman, Sachs & Company; the International Wheat Council and North American Export Grain Association. In government, he served as USDA Under Secretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs from 1983 to 1987 and then as Ambassador and chief negotiator for agriculture during the Uruguay Round General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) talks in 1987-1989.
USDA is among several federal agencies sending officials to the region to help rebuild the Iraqi political system, restart key government agencies and restore many sectors of the economy. Others include the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Interior, Treasury, Justice and State and the Office of Management and Budget, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Contact: Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623