Press Releases
Ambassador Burns Visits Orenburg
November 27, 2007
On November 27, Ambassador William J. Burns visited Orenburg, where he met with a wide range of civic, business, and political leaders.
The Ambassador discussed with Governor of Orenburg Oblast Aleksey Chernyshev the oblast's development as a regional center for agriculture and oil and gas refining. They also talked about opportunities for attracting additional American investment, and ways to develop greater ties between the United States and the region, including the expansion of U.S.-Russian partnerships in the oblast for the treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS.The Ambassador visited John Deere Orenburg, a plant which assembles and distributes agricultural equipment in Russia and other CIS countries. The John Deere assembly plant is the largest U.S. investment in Orenburg Oblast. Ambassador Burns' visit to the plant highlighted the opportunities for U.S. agricultural investment in the region and for greater economic development in rural areas.
Ambassador Burns' visit to Orenburg occurred a few days before World AIDS Day (December 1), when people worldwide unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Ambassador Burns toured the Orenburg AIDS Center, a facility known for its excellent care of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Ambassador also participated in a roundtable discussion at the Orenburg State Medical Academy with public health officials and civil society working on HIV prevention and care to discuss how government and NGOs collaborate in efforts to combat the disease. Orenburg is one of two focus regions in Russia under President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. American partners and organizations are working hand in hand with Russian counterparts in Orenburg to develop innovative programs for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment that can be used as models in other Russian regions and cities.