As part of his ongoing efforts to repair America’s relationship with the Islamic world, President Obama is hosting a gathering of Muslim enterpreneurs in Washington this week. The two-day Presidential Summit on Entrepeneurship has brought together about 250 people from more than 50 countries, Agence France-Presse reports.

The AFP notes that in his opening remarks, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke explained that boosting Muslim business also helps improve U.S. security and trade. The Christian Science Monitor has more on this story.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will close the summit today, followed by a breakfast recognizing Muslim women enterpreneurs tomorrow. Turkey’s Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Edrogan has offered to host near year’s gathering; until then, USA Today reports that Obama plans to set up exchange programs so that enterpreneurs from Silicon Valley and Muslim-majority countries can continue sharing their expertise on technology, health care, education and infrastructure.

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