Obama: Business shows 'the way forward'

MANITOWOC, Wis., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama said Saturday the United States is "called" to be "the best place on Earth to do business."

In his weekly radio and Internet address -- recorded Wednesday during his visit to Manitowoc, Wis. -- the president touted the work of Orion Energy Systems, which manufacturers what he called clean energy systems that use solar power and energy efficiency "to save farms and businesses thousands of dollars on their energy bills."

"I'm here because this business and others like it are showing us the way forward," he said. "And in the coming days, I'll be shining a spotlight on innovators across America who are relying on new technologies to create new jobs and opportunities in new industries.

He said the United States will "win the future -- by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our competitors."

"We'll win the future by being the best place on Earth to do business," the president said. "That is what we are called to do at this moment."

Obama said U.S. economic success requires "making sure that every single child can get a good education and every American can afford college or career training," and upgrading transportation and digital infrastructure to help businesses "sell their products and services faster and cheaper."

Obama said government and budget reform is necessary "so that we eliminate what we don't need to pay for the investments we need to grow, like education and medical research."