CCA President and CEO Visits Nigeria and Kenya

Corporate Council on Africa’s (CCA) President and CEO, Ms. Florizelle Liser met with key stakeholders in the public and private sector during her recent visit to Kenya and Nigeria. This was part of the ongoing effort to promote theupcoming U.S.-Africa Business Summitfrom June 18 – 21, 2019 in Maputo, Mozambique and advance trade, investment and business engagement between the United States and Africa.CCA, a Washington D.C. based organization, is the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting business interests between the United States and Africa.Visit to KenyaMs. Liser kicked off her round of meetings in Kenya with Ms. Carol Karuiki, CEO of Kenya Private Sector Alliance to discuss areas of mutual interest where both organizations could work together.The CCA president then met with Mr. Kiprono Kittony, National Chairman of the Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry to finalize an MOU discussion they had started in 2018. The signing of the MOU will take place on the sidelines of CCA's FlagshipU.S.-Africa Business Summittaking place June 18-21 in Maputo, Mozambique.Ms. Liser also met with Dr. Amit Thakker, Chairman of Africa Healthcare Federation to discuss areas CCA and AHF could collaborate on in the health sector and to promote more investments in the health sector.The CCA president invited all business associations and their respective members to Summit. She explained that CCA’s working relationship with the Government of Mozambique around this period is also a sign of the commitment of CCA objective on US- Africa relations.Ms. Liser and Ms. Sonia Mfasoni, East Africa Director, CCA met with several Kenya-based CCA members, General Electric, Kountable, KCB to discuss their current business objectives and expansion efforts across Africa.Ms. Liser also hosted a private CCA Member Dinner to recognize current members, existing partners and potential members in Kenya. Guests of honor of the dinner included Ambassador Kyle McCarter, US Embassy Nairobi and Ms. Betty Maina, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives. Other honored guests included Joyce-Ann Wainaina, CEO, Kenya and East Africa, Citi Bank; Philippe Dongier, Managing Director, Government Affairs & Policy, GE Africa; Vincent Aberi, Head of Diaspora Banking, KCB Group Limited; Bramuel Mwalo, Director, SSA, Kountable; Nora Petty, MITG Lead, SSA, Medtronic; Anthony Nganga, Brand and Commercial Director, P&G; Mary Kamari, Executive, Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations, Trade and Development Bank (TDB); Edwin Temu, Director, Visa, Inc.; John Lentaigne, Chief Underwriting Officer, Africa Trade Insurance Agency; Munene Mathenge, General Manager, DLR Group; Dan Awendo, Managing Director; Home Afrika; Florence Sugut, Managing Director, ikapamedia East Africa; Amrote Abdalla, Regional Director for Africa, Microsoft and other business and government leaders.Visit to NigeriaIn Lagos, Nigeria, Ms. Liser and Mr.EkenemIsichei, West Africa Director, CCA, met with CCA board members, Mr. Aliko Dangote and Mr. Jim Ovia and invited them to speak at theupcoming U.S.-Africa Business Summitfrom June 18 – 21, 2019 in Maputo, Mozambique. In the meetings with Ms. Liser, Mr. Dangote and Mr. Ovia shared their current business objectives and expansion efforts across Africa.Ms. Liser and Mr. Isichei attended a private CCA member dinner hosted by Mr. Ovia, which had in attendance, Dr. Oduwole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES), Mr. Aliko Dangote, Mr. Victor Hammond, Cecil Hammond, Mr. Femi Otedola, Mr. AIg-Imoukhuede, and other private sector business leaders from Andela, Flutterwave, Citibank, GE, Google, Visa, Procter and Gamble, Simon Coopers etc. Ms. Liser discussed CCA’s commitment to promoting U.S.-Nigeria relations, spoke about CCA’s work in Nigeria and across the continent in different sectors and invited all the members and dinner guests to the upcomingU.S.-Africa Business Summit.During her trip, Ms. Liser with the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce President, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director General and Ms. Temitope Akintunde, Assistant Director of LCCI. Areas of mutual interest were discussed, and areas of opportunities were identified where both organizations could work together.Ms. Liser also met with the President of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Mr. Akomolafe, the Director General, Joyce Akpata and members of the board. Given that both organizations are focused on building strong synergies between the US and Nigeria, Ms. Liser invited the President and members of the NACC to CCA’sU.S.-Africa Business Summit.The CCA president also attended a private dinner hosted by Mr and Mrs. Tunde Folawiyo and the Global Citizen’s foundation, which was attended by the Governor elect of Lagos State, Mr. Sanwolu, Mr. Jim Ovia, Mr. Tonye Cole, Biola Alabi etc.To conclude her visit to Nigeria, Ms. Liser explored Nigeria’s tech sector by visiting the Andela Nigeria office and the Vibranium Valley innovation hub. She was impressed by the human capital development efforts involved and the remarkable innovation from the ICT sector in Nigeria.