scientists and their research in the States of the former USSR. Aminostream is one of our success stories, and has as its origin, the Scientific Research Institute of Biotechnology of the Republic of Armenia, founded in 1971, the Institute became the Lead organization for biotechnology research and production of high-purity amino acids for the medical and food industries for the entire USSR. While ISTC support for the Institute goes back over a decade, for the past five years, we have focused on making the Institute a sustainable commercial producer of non-protein amino acids. The Institute has surpassed our expectations and have developed systems and practices that combined make them an extremely cost efficient and flexible producer. Based upon this success we have encouraged them to "commercialize" their activities, and in response the Institute has created Aminostream, incorporated in the EU (Latvia) it is a completely independent producer with the Institute as a major shareholder.

As I mentioned at the beginning, Aminostream is one of the ISTC success stories, it is on its own, competing in the world market place. It is an example of the successful marriage of different players all supporting science and innovation. It is what Globalization can and should be. In the end, however, its future depends on its ability to compete and survive in the market place. I urge you to test this and challenge them to perform. This is the only test that really matters, and I am sure they will meet any and all of your expectations.