The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is pleased to announce six winners of the 2024 Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). Established in 1999 by Secretary of State Madeline Albright, ACE recognizes the crucial role U.S. companies are playing in elevating global standards of business conduct. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will host the awards ceremony on October 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. EDT at the State Department. This year's ACE categories are Women's Economic Security, Innovation to Strengthen Communities, and Climate Resilience.
- For Women's Economic Security, the Department honored Parker Clay in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Bank of America in India. Parker Clay is a medium-sized American leather goods brand that employs 200 workers at its factory. Over 80 percent of its employees are women, many of whom are survivors of human trafficking and are earning a paycheck for the first time. Bank of America's commitment to India goes beyond business. Its social impact initiatives have transformed the lives of over 300,000 women and girls across India, focusing on education, skill development, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, and employment opportunities.
- For Innovation to Strengthen Communities, the Department recognized Koster Keunen, a medium-sized company that created a market for beeswax in seven West African countries. By introducing modern, sustainable techniques, Koster Keunen transformed a previously overlooked by-product of honey production into a new industry. The other winner in this category is Branch of Microsoft Colombia Inc., which over the course of its 32 years in Colombia has partnered with NGOs, universities, companies, big and small, and national and local governments, to expand internet connectivity, build digital skills, and foster economic inclusion for Colombia's vulnerable and underserved communities.
- For Climate Resilience, the winners are Rizome, a small company pioneering the use of engineered bamboo in the construction industry from its flagship project in the Philippines, and Newmont Corporation, a global mining company operating in Suriname. Newmont has invested in environmental conservation as well as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, creating lasting positive impacts - particularly in indigenous communities.
Together, these companies are showing real leadership in addressing some of our greatest global challenges. This year marks the Award for Corporate Excellence's 25th anniversary.
