The 8th Biennial US–Africa Business Summit is just around the corner, and here’s a quick look at what this increasingly important event is all about.
Africa is the new land of opportunity and economic growth. It is considered one of the fastest-growing economic regions and is opening doors for small, medium and large businesses alike.
At its current rate of economic growth, Africa will surpass Russia’s expected $960 billion worth of trade by 2020 with $1.4 trillion traded in services and products. The former “lost continent” has found a healthy position in the global business environment and investment is flooding into business industries such as infrastructure, natural resources, telecommunications, agriculture, health and energy to name but a few. One of Africa’s key partners in the business world is, of course, the United States of America, which is seen as a global power in business. While it is going through a tough time in business, there is still billions of dollars worth of investing taking place; importantly, a large percentage of those investments are or will be made on the African continent. This event will take an in-depth look at the business transactions as a whole going on between the US and Africa.
The US-Africa Business Summit will be running in Washington, Columbia from Wednesday 5 October to Friday 7 October, and the agenda is packed full of discussions, including the following forums: Doing Business in Nigeria, Doing Business in Zimbabwe, Doing Business in Ethiopia, Doing Business in Ghana, The Emerging African Market – Why We Are Investing, Professional Development: Pillar of National Security and Development, The Power Sector in Africa – Fundamental for Sustainable Development, Integrating Defence and Development through Maritime Domain Awareness. Also on the agenda for the three-day summit are workshops that will see the following areas being discussed and analysed in depth: infrastructure, power, health and infrastructure.
There is no denying that the US is still a vital source of business and economic investment in the global marketplace, and it’s important that Africa, as a whole, maximises this good relationship. Africa is full of opportunities to make money, as well as invest in the future of its people. It’s time to seize the moment and let the world know that Africa is a business powerhouse on its own. Africa is the future.
