It’s almost clichéd now to say that foreign policy and economic policy are inextricably connected. For countries in transition, facing huge demographic challenges, it’s twice as true.

That’s why today we convened a very productive meeting with Secretary Albright, Coca-Cola’s Muhtar Kent, Walter Isaacson and many representatives from local chapters of Partners for a New Beginning.

The reality is that in difficult budget times at home and times of challenge overseas, helping the Middle East and Northern Africa meet the demands of their populations for dignity and opportunity requires new and creative partnerships.

We have to leverage private sector leadership more dramatically than at any time in our history. We need a new collaboration that reaches beyond government to include business and civil society groups working together to promote economic growth.

Economic opportunity, jobs and entrepreneurial activity represent an American spirit that other countries hope to tap into in their own way, and that’s the kind of economic diplomacy PNB is helping us deliver to strengthen ties between the United States and the Muslim world.