PR-1165E | Date: 11/28/2011
Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will visit Taipei December 1-2, 2011, at AIT’s invitation, as part of his trip through Asia. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the world’s most vital dynamic regions and long-standing U.S. engagement has supported its development. As USAID marks the 50th anniversary of its establishment by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Administrator Shah is visiting Taiwan to celebrate the historic relationship between USAID and Taiwan and Taiwan’s remarkable transformation into a thriving and democratic society.
On December 2, Administrator Shah is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the opening of the “American Footsteps in Taiwan” International Forum at the National Library. The exhibit highlights the friendship between the people of the United States and Taiwan and the role played by the United States in Taiwan’s rapid development.
During his stay in Taiwan, Administrator Shah will meet with President Ma Ying-jeou and other senior government officials and business leaders.
Administrator Shah was sworn in on December 31, 2009 as the 16th Administrator of USAID, and he leads the efforts of more than 8,000 professionals in 80 missions around the world. Administrator Shah is the highest-ranking U.S. government official from the Obama Administration to visit Taiwan.
USAID supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting: economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. USAID is an independent U.S. federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy advice from the Secretary of State.
Biography of Dr. Rajiv Shah
Administrator
Dr. Raj Shah was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on December 31, 2009. USAID, a U.S. Government agency, has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for almost 50 years.
Previously, Dr. Shah served as Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and as Chief Scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he was responsible for safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system, as well as strong communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education. At USDA, he launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a new scientific institute that elevated the status and funding of agricultural research to be more in line with other major scientific groups. He also produced innovative initiatives in bio-energy, climate, global food security, childhood obesity, and food safety.
Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Shah served as director of Agricultural Development in the Global Development Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In his seven years with the Gates Foundation, Shah served as the Foundation’s director of Strategic Opportunities and as deputy director of policy and finance for the Global Health Program. In these roles, he helped develop and launch the foundation’s Global Development Program, and helped create both the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, and the International Finance Facility for Immunization-an effort that raised more than $5 billion for child immunization.
Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in 2001, Shah was the health care policy advisor on the Gore 2000 presidential campaign and a member of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell’s transition committee on health. He is the co-founder of Health Systems Analytics and Project IMPACT for South Asian Americans. In addition, he has served as a policy aide in the British Parliament and worked at the World Health Organization.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Shah earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and his Master of Science in health economics at the Wharton School of Business. He has attended the London School of Economics, is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and has published articles on health policy and global development. Shah previously served on the boards of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Seattle Public Library, and the Seattle Community College District. In 2007, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Shah is married with three children. He lives in Washington, D.C.
