8/6/2014
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday new financial and public and private investment commitments to Africa totaling some $33 billion.
“Even as Africa continues to face enormous challenges, we cannot lose sight of the new Africa that is emerging,” he said at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, part of a three-day summit that has brought more than 40 African heads of state to Washington.
Obama announced $14 billion in agreements by U.S. firms, $7 billion in public financing to push exports and investment on the continent and $12 billion in commitments from the World Bank and other organizations to support the White House initiative to provide broader electricity coverage to Africa.
“The United States is determined to be a partner in Africa’s success,” he said. “A good partner, an equal partner and a partner for the long term.”
“We don’t look to Africa simply for its natural resources. We recognize Africa for its greatest resource, which is its people, their talents and their potential,” the president said.
He hailed the fact the U.S. exports to the region have risen to record levels, but he said that much remains to be done.
“We’ve got to do better, much better,” he emphasized.
With the new investment commitments, the United States is seeking to strengthen its role in a continent where it has been left behind by the European Union and China, which overtook the United States as Africa’s main trade partner in 2009.
“We also realize we have some catching up to do,” former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the forum. “We are letting Europe and China go faster than the U.S.”
source
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday new financial and public and private investment commitments to Africa totaling some $33 billion.“Even as Africa continues to face enormous challenges, we cannot lose sight of the new Africa that is emerging,” he said at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, part of a three-day summit that has brought more than 40 African heads of state to Washington.
Obama announced $14 billion in agreements by U.S. firms, $7 billion in public financing to push exports and investment on the continent and $12 billion in commitments from the World Bank and other organizations to support the White House initiative to provide broader electricity coverage to Africa.
“The United States is determined to be a partner in Africa’s success,” he said. “A good partner, an equal partner and a partner for the long term.”
“We don’t look to Africa simply for its natural resources. We recognize Africa for its greatest resource, which is its people, their talents and their potential,” the president said.
He hailed the fact the U.S. exports to the region have risen to record levels, but he said that much remains to be done.
“We’ve got to do better, much better,” he emphasized.
With the new investment commitments, the United States is seeking to strengthen its role in a continent where it has been left behind by the European Union and China, which overtook the United States as Africa’s main trade partner in 2009.
“We also realize we have some catching up to do,” former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the forum. “We are letting Europe and China go faster than the U.S.”
source
No comments:
Post a Comment