These two bureaus have been created in order to enhance oversight and strengthen inter-agency coordination for USAID programs in these regions. The Central Asian Republics, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, were previously grouped in USAID’s Europe & Eurasia Bureau, will relocate to the Asia Bureau to further promote greater integration between the South and Central Asia regions, and to create new North-South linkages and promote closer regional ties of economic, security and democratic nature.

The Middle East Bureau will be headed by George Laudato with Jim Bever as deputy. Its US$2.3 billion budget will cover: Morocco, Egypt, West Bank/Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and the Middle East Regional office. The Asia Bureau will be headed by Mark Ward with Lisa Chiles as deputy. Its US$2.5 billion budget will cover: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Vietnam, the Central Asian Republics and the East Asia Regional office.

"This reorganization reflects a strengthened focus on USAID’s commitment to these two regions by providing more even distribution of programming resources for funding and personnel. In addition, this would align us to be more in focus with the corresponding bureaus at the Department of State under our existing budget and senior review process," said USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore.

In attendance for the ceremony was: Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator of USAID; Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs; Glyn T. Davies, Acting, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian Pacific Affairs; and Jeffrey D. Feltman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

The American people, through the US Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.