WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-South Africa Business Council, the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa (AmCham South Africa), and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to enhance the bilateral commercial partnership between their nations. The MOU will serve as a foundation for increased cooperation between the U.S. Chamber, AmCham South Africa, and BUSA, as ‘priority partners’ in organizing future policy, advocacy, and business activities and events to promote the U.S.-South Africa economic partnership. The MOU signing was witnessed by Chargé d’Affaires a.i., at the U.S. Mission to South Africa, Todd P. Haskell, and the Minister for Economic Affairs of the South African Embassy on behalf of the Ambassador Her Excellency Nomaindiya Cathleen Mfeketo.
Kendra Gaither, Vice President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center, said, “It is my pleasure to represent the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today at the signing of our MOU with AmCham South Africa and BUSA, which opens the next chapter in a long, fruitful collaboration. This MOU will leverage each organization’s comparative advantage so that the U.S. Chamber, AmCham South Africa, and BUSA can foster business growth and a robust economic environment between our two countries.”
Gaither continued, “I am especially proud to see this MOU not only builds on past activities with AmCham South Africa and BUSA—which have produced numerous investment forums and important commercial dialogues—but that it also marks a key step in honoring our 2019 pledge to re-energize the U.S.-South Africa Business Council’s mission, in its 10th anniversary year, to double U.S. commercial and foreign direct investment in South Africa by 2025.”
Angela Russell, Chief Executive Officer of AmCham South Africa added, “While AmCham South Africa, U.S.-South Africa Business Council, and BUSA have long collaborated on key business dialogues and trade policy programs, I welcome today’s important initiative, which formalizes and strengthens our existing ties. We are pleased to take this step forward today alongside partners and friends to advance our common purpose of promoting South Africa-U.S. commercial relations.”
BUSA Chief Executive Officer Cas Coovadia said, “We at Business Unity South Africa are proud to work with the U.S. Chamber and AmCham South Africa to prioritize and promote our countries’ shared growth and prosperity. Today’s agreement will help elevate our organizations’ already high levels of cooperation and translate it into actionable measures to stimulate trade and investment.”
For more on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-South Africa Business Council, the premier Washington-based organization dedicated to strengthening the economic relationship between the United States and South Africa, please visit here.
