The Corporate Council On Africa Receives Presidential Award For Export Successes

18 May 2015
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Corporate Council on Africa (Washington, DC)
press release

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today presented The Corporate Council on Africa with the “E” Award for Export Service at a ceremony in Washington, DC. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

“The President's ‘E’ Award winners are outstanding American businesses and organizations that have played a crucial role in strengthening and growing our economy through increased U.S. exports,” said Secretary Pritzker.

“The Corporate Council on Africa has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion,” said Secretary Pritzker in her letter to the company announcing its selection. “[Their] achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs.”

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United States and the nations of Africa. CCA is the premier American organization devoted to U.S.-Africa business relations and includes as members more than 180 companies, which represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa.

“CCA’s mission is to promote private sector trade and investment between the United States and the countries of Africa.” stated Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of The Corporate Council on Africa. “CCA promotes U.S. exports to the continent through trade missions to Africa, an active trade facilitation working group, and events with U.S. and African government officials, including our biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit. CCA is also the designated private sector leader on TradeAfrica and a partner in the Administration’s PowerAfrica initiative. We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our work to bring together U.S. and African decision-makers to help expand national export efforts, support the economy and create jobs.”

In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters. Today, Secretary Pritzker honored 45 U.S. companies with the President’s “E” Award for their outstanding work to reduce barriers to foreign markets and to open the door to more trade around the world.

U.S. exports of goods and services hit an all-time record of $2.34 trillion in 2014, accounting for 13.4 percent of U.S. GDP, compared to 7.5 percent 30 years ago. Nationally, jobs supported by exports reached an all-time high last year with more than 11.7 million jobs, up 1.8 million since 2009.

American companies are nominated for “E” Awards through the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Record years of successive export growth and an applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in selecting the overall winners.

For more information about the “E” Awards and the benefits of exporting, visit www.export.gov. For more information on The Corporate Council on Africa, visit www.africacncl.org.

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