Center Lays Out Objectives for Continued Economic Engagement
WASHINGTON, D.C.– The U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) this week led a delegation of U.S. business leaders to Nigeria for its biannual board meeting.
The USAfBC board members gathered for two days of discussions focused on ways the USAfBC can collaborate with African leaders to ensure continued U.S. business engagement in Africa. The board, co-chaired by Jay Ireland, president and CEO of GE Africa and Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, also met with Nigeria’s Vice President H.E. Yemi Osinbajo, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington, and Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah. The USAfBC also met with Marcel de Souza, president of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“Since the inception of the US-Africa Business Center, we have taken great strides in becoming the epicenter addressing policy and regulatory issues on U.S.-Africa relations in Washington and across the continent,” said Scott Eisner, president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center. “By going straight to government officials when issues arise in key African growth markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco, we have been able to effectively address and solve public policy issues that are impacting trade and investment.”
Earlier this year, the USAfBC proposed to the Trump administration six key areas of focus to help spur private sector investment in Africa. The USAfBC’s work in 2017 and in the year ahead stems from the following goals:
- Enhancing U.S.-Africa bilateral and regional engagements
- Improving the ease of doing business for U.S. companies
- Focusing on infrastructure
- Boosting Africa’s digital transformation
- Adding value to Africa’s agricultural sector
- Advancing trade facilitation and customs modernization
In the coming year, the USAfBC’s efforts will focus on expanding commercial opportunities in Africa by utilizing its network of over 2,500 Chambers of Commerce throughout the United States.
