Washington, DC — The U.S. Africa Business Summit got underway here Tuesday night with a gala awards dinner featuring a keynote address by President Festus Mogae of Botswana and musical performances by artists who helped to record a "Songs for Life" CD to raise awareness and funds for the fight against HIV/Aids.
Sponsored by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), which launched the binennial event in 1997, this year's gathering includes a scheduled appearance on Thursday by President George W. Bush, who is expected to express support for extending the African Growth and Opportunities Act and elaborate on his plans for travel to Africa early next month. Secretary of State Colin Powell will speak to Summit participants Friday, and the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick, will conduct a 'closed' workshop for trade ministers.
In addition, according to CCA, a "high level Chinese delegation with more experience doing business in Africa than most U.S. companies" will offer participants their expertise in a workshop titled "Chinas Investment in Africa: Lessons for U.S. Businesses."
The summit, which runs through Friday, brings together business and government leaders "who are united by their shared commitment to promoting trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa," according to a CCA statement. Addressing the dinner, CCA President Stephen Hayes characterized the summit as "the largest assemblage in the United States of people committed to trade and investment in Africa."
The event seeks to facilitate export/import trading, give visibility to agents, representatives and distributors, explore joint venture partnerships and strategic alliances, and to promote foreign direct investment in Africa. "If you are serious about doing business with Africa, you must have reliable partners on both sides of the Atlantic. This conference is designed to build these partnerships," says CCA President Stephen Hayes.
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The Council expects 16 African heads of state and government to attend, along with more than 2,000 participants from government and the private sector in Africa and the United States, as well as Europe and Asia.
At the Tuesday night dinner, CCA honored Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, C. Payne Lucas, the president emeritus of Africare, and Maurice Tempelsman, chairman of the board of Lazare Kaplan International and chairman emeritus of CCA. Hayes, the Council president, said the awardees are men who have made "giant impressions on the landscape of Africa and the United States over the past half century."
The "Songs for Life" CD, produced by the Royal Initiative to Combat Aids (www.royalaids.org) that was established by King Mswati III of Swaziland, is scheduled to appear in record stores on August 19, 2003. The artists include Patti Labelle, Miriam Makeba, George Benson, Kandice Love, Paul Simon, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Gerald Levert, Judy Collins, Carole King, Michael W. Smith, Billy Gilliam, Joanthan Butler , Yoko Ono, Richie Havens, Zeni Lee, Loyiso Bala, Jabu Khanyile, Innocent Modiva, Margaret Motasageand Joan Osborne.
