Defining The New U.S. Administration’s Engagement in Africa

The opening plenary at the 2017 U.S.-Africa Business Summit aimed to provide government leaders with a platform to engage with a top official from President Trump’s Administration and discuss the future U.S.-Africa economic relationship. The plenary featured Hon. Wilbur Ross, U.S. Secretary of Commerce; H.E. Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique; and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank.Secretary Ross started his keynote address by quoting President Donald Trump’s G7 Summit remarks on Africa: “Africa is a place of opportunity.” He touted the successes of U.S. Department of Commerce representatives on the ground in linking African customers to American goods and services, a testament of the quality US products and the reputation of American businesses for their local engagement and corporate responsibility. “Since January 2014, the Commerce Department’s Advocacy Center has helped American companies win 29 separate major tenders in Sub-Saharan Africa. The value of these wins was approximately $7.6 billion, with $2 billion in U.S. export content.” Secretary Ross went on to encourage U.S.-Africa bilateral trade agreements. He stressed the importance of a strong trade relationship with Africa for the security and stability of both the United States and Africa. Secretary Ross concluded his remarks by recommending the U.S. Department of Commerce as a resource for doing business in Africa and stating that he was confident of United States’ economic relationship with Africa.Following the keynote address, President Filipe Nyusi addressed the audience. He showcased Mozambique as a gateway to doing business in Southern Africa and as a strategic partner for the U.S. Government and U.S. businesses. President Nyusi called for greater U.S. investment and partnership with Africa. “It [is] easier to enumerate what is not grown in my country rather than list what is produced. Mozambique can almost grow everything,” said President Nyusi. “We urge and encourage the American business people to take advantage of the enabling business environment, and investment opportunities and potential that exist in Mozambique to diversify their interventions.”Dr. Akinwumi Adesina also emphasized the importance of U.S.-Africa partnerships, pushing for the U.S.-Africa business relationship to go beyond trade. “Africa offers you all ‘The Deal of the Century’, and America should not be left behind,” said Dr. Adesina. “Think of a continent where household expenditures will rise to $1.4 trillion in the next three years. Think of the continent where business to business investments will rise to $3.5 trillion in the next eight years. Think of the continent where the population by 2050 will be the same [size] as India and China taken together today. Think of the continent that will brim with huge demand from a rising youth population that will reach 840 million by 2050, all buying and owning consumer products.”Dr. Adesina ended the plenary by hosting a discussion with Honorable Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, Republic of Ghana; Honorable Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Small Business Development, Republic of South Africa; Honorable Hassan Come, Minister of Trade and Industry, Central African Republic; and Honorable Calle Schlettwein, Minister of Finance, Republic of Namibia. The discussion focused on all aspects of Africa trade and investment, including intra-Africa trade and the continent’s trade and investment relationship with the United States.