On June 16, 2021, the U.S. – Africa Business Center hosted AmChams from across the continent, partners, stakeholders, and some government officials for the virtual Advance with Africa AmCham Summit to share the U.S. Chamber’s priorities and expectations for the new U.S. Government’s Administration as well as to strengthen advocacy capabilities to facilitate the ease of doing business in respective markets across Africa.
Day one of the summit featured a Presidential address from Ghana’s President, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo on the Future of U.S. -Africa Economic Relations. The President reiterated the importance of the summit and the need to promote cooperation among countries to fight COVID -19 and foster shared prosperity. ”The importance of this event cannot be lost on anyone, especially as the nations of the world strengthen their cooperation to eliminate the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
”It is in the mutual interest of Africa and the United States of America, and indeed the rest of the world to forge relationships that will guarantee prosperity for us all,” the President added.
Other speakers at the summit included Scott Eisner, President of U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who delivered the welcome remarks, touching on the importance of making Africa engagement a presidential priority, capacity building to support the African continent’s free trade area, deepening and expanding the progress of a whole-of-government approach to enhance the competitiveness of U.S businesses on the continent, and engaging leaders on the continent on policy and regulatory practices to support the growth of the digital economy and trade.
The summit also featured remarks from Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce on the State of U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Relations, and Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council, who presented An Overview of the Biden-Harris Africa Policy.
The event also hosted panel discussions on Using the AfCFTA as a Vehicle for African Economic Recovery and Tools for Expanding U.S. Commercial in Africa.
By By Albert Ludwig Botchway, AmCham Communications
