Dallas - The 16th US-Africa Business Summit taking place in Dallas, Texas, closes Thursday after three days of debates around the challenges, business perspectives and investments in the African continent.
According to data from the organization of the event, which was attended by the Angolan President, João Lourenço, the initiative brought together more than 1,500 business and government leaders, including five African heads of government and more than 16 delegations.
Since Tuesday, according to numbers advanced by the summit's promoters, more than 15 US Government officials have participated in thematic panels, forums and high-level dialogues, enriching dialogue and promoting stronger ties between nations.
During the first two days of work (Tuesday and Wednesday), the agenda was marked by testimonies and case studies from African presidents, who spoke about projects taking place in their respective countries, in different sectors.
On Wednesday, participants reflected on the topics of women's economic empowerment, regional and global supply chains, the reality of the African diaspora, sustainable US-Africa partnership, creative industries and resilience of health systems, a topic on which the Angolan minister of Cheers, Sílvia Lutucuta.
The agenda included a thematic panel on investment in Mozambique and a round table on investment in Namibia, as well as a plenary on Women's Economic Empowerment: Catalyst for Impactful Investments and Commercial Business between the USA and Africa.
This topic served to delve into strategies for collaborating on Women's Economic Empowerment initiatives in the public and private sectors, with a specific emphasis on promoting partnerships in the context of US-Africa trade and investment.
The plenary explored ways to create enabling environments for women entrepreneurs and professionals, leveraging the strengths of the public and private sectors collectively to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation and inclusion.
Another panel of the day was on the theme of Lighting the Way Forward: Reducing Energy Access to the Last Mile in Africa, which explored innovative solutions and collaborative opportunities to accelerate energy access in Africa.
He also discussed cutting-edge technologies, financing models and community engagement strategies that can bridge the energy gap and unlock a better future.
Another panel was related to the theme Cities – Delivering now to and for the people of the future, which will bring together municipal managers, mayors and governors from the USA and Africa with NGOs and private sector companies to discuss the challenges and opportunities for governance oriented towards democracy.
Likewise, participants discussed the panel Expanding Agribusiness Enterprises: Opportunities and Challenges for Taking African Agriculture to the Next Level, during which they discussed what would be needed to ensure greater involvement of the American private sector in African agribusiness.
The issue of Special Economic Zones: Connecting Africa to Regional and Global Supply Chains also received the attention of those invited to the event, in a panel that brought together ZEE managers, government officials and investors.
They spoke about how best to develop their potential and drive broader economic growth, at a time when Africa is now the fastest growing continent for ZEE adoption, with more than 240 ZEEs in 47 of 54 countries.
For this Thursday, the agenda includes, among other activities, a plenary session on Strengthening the Health Regulatory System, which will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to explore opportunities to create an environment conducive to investment.
Another panel will be Supercharging SMEs: Strategies to Accelerate US-Africa Trade and Investment, a topic that explores the fundamental role of Small and Medium Enterprises as engines of economic growth and innovation in the US and Africa.
This panel will delve into viable strategies aimed at unlocking the full potential of SMEs and strengthening their participation in bilateral trade and investment.
Likewise, panels are planned on Cancer detection and treatment: importance of diagnosis and access to treatment, Insurance Sector in Africa: Commercial Risk Mitigation (Business), From hustle and bustle to million-dollar companies: the story of African entrepreneurs, Data-Driven: Unlocking Africa's Economic Potential, Real-world advice on what works under AGOA and how to improve it Partnership to accelerate Africa's industrialization.
The closing session will highlight the combination of policies, financing and technologies needed to accelerate Africa's green industrialization, and will feature, among other individuals, Reta Jo Lewis, Executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Florizelle Liser, Corporate Council for Africa. Elj/ART/DOJ
