The implementation of the decisions and agreements made during the latest U.S-Africa Summit to boost economic and political ties between African continent and the United States of America is bearing fruits., say United Sates Government officials.
“In the last six months, we have seen great progress on the business and economic front. Many of you will recall that during the summit, there was a day devoted to business, commercial, and investment issues. That day resulted in some $15.7 billion in agreements being made between American companies and African countries and companies. Since then, the number of deals has actually increased to $16.2 billion,” said Ambassador Johnnie Carson Special Presidential Representative for U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit Implementation, during an online press briefing this week.
“These deals have covered a wide range of areas, including infrastructure, health care, solar system implementation and establishment, as well as agricultural activities. These represent a commitment by the American business community to work effectively and work progressively with African companies and countries,” Ambassador Johnnie Carson said.
“One of the other things that has been done since the implementation of the summit has been the establishment of a U.S. Diaspora Engagement Council. This is one of the things that President Biden said that he wanted to do. This council will be represented by 12 Americans comprised of individuals of first- and second-generation diaspora as well as heritage diaspora,” added Ambassador Johnnie Carson
“They will report to the President through the Secretary of State on recommendations to strengthen the level of cooperation and understanding between African Americans who are here in the United States and those who live on the continent. The diaspora represents an enormous foreign policy asset for the United States. No one knows Africa better and is more connected than those who have recently come from there, who have their heritage there. We look at this as a very positive development,” said Ambassador Johnnie Carson.
Commenting on the progress made since the Summit, Judd Devermont National Security Council Senior Director for African Affairs, said: “One of the biggest announcements was on the Digital Transformation with Africa. This initiative is an $800 million initiative to invest in the continent’s digital future, whether it is enabling young people to have the digital literacy and access to get online to encouraging more investment in the African economies and digital sector.”
“We’ve established an African Digital Policy Council to navigate and to coordinate our efforts, and when Vice President Harris visited the continent, she went to Lusaka and did a call to action with many entrepreneurs and philanthropists, essentially creating a private sector arm to the Digital Transformation with Africa. And there’ll be more to say about that in the coming months,” said Judd Devermont.
Commenting on U.S. support to Africa as a continent in general, Molly Phee Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, indicated that President Joe Biden has affirmed American support for an African permanent seat in the Security Council.
“The President affirmed American support for the African Union to be part of the G20. He also talked about how he would direct Secretary Yellen, our Secretary of the Treasury, to look at the multilateral financial institutions and make sure they were revamped and fit for purpose for the current challenges we’re all facing,” said Molly Phee.
“So we wanted to make good on our promise to elevate African voices in the global conversation. Here in the Africa Bureau at the State Department, we’ve worked to identify staffing to have a cell that will focus on making sure we continue to direct the many different U.S. Government departments and agencies to continue to engage proactively to support African interests that are good for both Africans and for Americans,” said Molly Phee.
The digital media brieffing held on Monday was aimed to reflect on the progress made in implimenting the agreements made between the two sides during the U.S.-Africa Summit six months ago.