Washington, DC — The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will co-sponsor the first annual U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference from September 27-29, 2006 in Washington, D.C.
"The Department is honored to be co sponsoring this conference with CCA. Infrastructure is vital to fostering prosperity and Commerce in Africa," said Kevin Boyd, Director of the Office of Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerce. "There are tremendous opportunities for U.S. companies in African infrastructure projects."
A first of its kind in the U.S, the Infrastructure Conference will focus on Africa's key growth sectors including water, energy, roads and rails, transportation, as well as information and communications technology (ICT).
"The DOC's support will help to bring U.S. businesses to the table. We need to bridge the gap between U.S. businesses and infrastructure opportunities available on the continent. The DOC co-sponsorship will ultimately enhance the U.S. private sector's involvement in developing Africa's trade capacity," stated CCA president Stephen Hayes.
Inadequate infrastructure is one of the greatest impediments to U.S. business growth on the African continent and makes it increasingly difficult for African economies to compete globally.
"It is up to U.S. companies interested in market expansion to take the lead in this area and explore the current push for development in Africa before the momentum passes, or is lost to countries and regions that show a greater sense of urgency," Hayes concluded.
The first annual U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference will address global best practices in financing, risk mitigation and project development. The conference is sponsored by Africa Investor, Corporate Africa, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, Hunton & Williams, Oracle, Partnership to End Poverty, ProConsult, Schaffer Global Group and South African Airways.
CCA, established in 1993, is a nonpartisan 501(3)(c) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. Visit CCA's website at www.africacncl.org.
