The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) today hosted a luncheon in Washington, D.C., for Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete. The meeting took place on the eve of CCA's 7th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit, which will attract 1,500 business and government leaders from the U.S. and across Africa. The summit will provide key insights into opportunities for increasing business ties between the U.S. and the African continent.
In May of this year, Kikwete became the first African head of state to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House. At the CCA luncheon, he told an audience of more than 100 business leaders that his country welcomes American investment and called for measures to enhance the trading relationship between the U.S. and Tanzania. Tanzania boasts one of the world's fastest growing economies.
Tanzania's ranking as the ninth fastest-growing economy in the world is a testimony to the business-friendly leadership by President Kikwete,? said Stephen Hayes, president and CEO of CCA. ? Trade and investment must continue to be the cornerstone of U.S. ?
Africa foreign policy?
Kikwete encouraged U.S. investment in five key areas: infrastructure; agriculture; natural resources; tourism; and banking services. ? Today's African leadership believes in the role of the private sector in our nations? development,? said Kikwete. ?We want those companies that are succeeding in Africa to spread the good word.? He concluded by criticizing western media for scaring investors as others ?
Gobble up Africa?
Kikwete is joined at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit by the presidents of several other African countries and dozens of senior government officials from Africa and the United States. For more information on the 7th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit, visit: www.africacncl.org (http://www.africacncl.org).
About The Corporate Council on Africa
Established in 1993, The Corporate Council on Africa is a nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization of nearly 180 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. The organization is dedicated to bringing together potential business partners and to showcase business opportunities on the continent.