News from the Brown Forum

The 2012 Brown Forum - April 2-3, 2012, Opatija, Croatia

• Official  website of the forum: http://www.brownforum.net/
• Remarks by U.S. Ambassador James B. Foley at Brown Forum Opening Session, Opatija (April 2, 2012)
• The Brown Forum Photo Gallery
• The Brown Forum Video Gallery

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• http://www.facebook.com/TheBrownForum
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About The Brown Forum

In April 1996, Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown led a trade mission to Southeast Europe to promote democracy and trade in a region just emerging from a period of war. Because he believed that the path to sustainable democracy and peace in the region would be greatly smoothed by increasing international trade and investment, he wanted to personally bring leaders of U.S. firms to meet the local business and government leaders who would guide the economic futures of the new states. Tragically, Secretary Brown and 34 others perished when their plane crashed on approach to the Dubrovnik Airport before they could complete their mission.

This year, on the fifteenth anniversary of that loss, the U.S. Embassy in Croatia and the Office of the President of Croatia jointly convened a conference to continue the legacy of that mission and commemorate Secretary Brown and his delegation by co-hosting "The Brown Forum: U.S. & Southeast European Trade and Investment" in their honor.

This was a propitious time for this event as the countries of the Southeast European region strive to emerge from the ongoing global economic crisis and build a more sustainable model for growth, trade and investment. The Forum provided a unique opportunity for government and business leaders from the countries of the region to come together with U.S. government officials and business leaders for a wide ranging dialogue about improving the attractiveness of Southeast Europe as a destination for foreign investment and trade and creating business partnerships between regional and American businesses.

It also promoted direct business to business contact opportunities and contact with regional government officials to explore opportunities for partnership and growth.

The Forum lasted two days with an opening reception the evening before.

As has been done every year since 1996, memorial events commemorated those who perished in the crash.

The 2011 Brown Forum - April 4-6, 2011, Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Summary Proceedings (PDF 273 KB)
• Action Plan to Stimulate Business and Economic Growth in the Southeast European Region - Approved in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 6 April 2011
• Remarks by Ambassador Foley at the opening of The Brown Forum Dubrovnik, Croatia - April 5, 2011