Luanda – The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, said on Tuesday in Luanda that the US invested US$3 billion in Angola during 'his short presidency'.
Speaking at the Slavery Museum, as part of his 3-day visit to Angola, he detailed that both countries have good ties in the fields of clean energy, health, food security.
He said that much is questioned about what this agenda should produce for Angola and Africa.
'I cannot say what I hope or wish for the future of the world, but I can say with great certainty that the future for Africa and Angola are bright futures, I am fully sure that the future for Angola is bright,' he expressed.
To this end, he said that it is essential to remain focused on ensuring that Angola asserts itself to the world as a nation of peace and security and that no nation is an adversary of the other.
The Joe Biden also highlighted the fact that the country is asserting itself 'very categorically' on issues of security and peace in Africa.
Investments in Africa
At the ceremony, witnessed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, members of the government, her cabinet, Members of the Parliament, politicians, civil society and religious leaders, he said that two years ago, he pledged to deliver US$55 billion in new investments in Africa and to mobilize American companies to close new deals with African partners.
'We are way ahead of schedule. More than 20 leaders of U.S. government agencies and members of my cabinet have traveled to Africa, delivering more than $40 billion in investment so far,' he clarified.
He said his administration has announced nearly 1,200 new deals between African and U.S. companies — and those partnerships have an estimated total value of $52 billion, including investments in solar energy, telecommunications, finance, infrastructure and partnerships with U.S. airlines to expand tourism opportunities.
'In many ways, Africa's success is and will be the world's success. As I said at the U.S.-Africa Summit: the United States is completely committed to the future of Africa,' Joe Biden said.
He stressed that under his leadership, the United States brought the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 economies and insisted on more African representation among the leaders of the International Monetary Fund and other global financial institutions.
'We also push to ensure that developing nations do not have to choose between paying unsustainable debts and investing in their own people, and we are using our own voice to increase Africa's presence on the UN Security Council and the United Nations. This must happen,' he said.
According to Joe Biden, the United States continues to be the largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance in the world and this will increase, as this is the right thing to do for the richest nation in the world.
In this sense, it announced more than one billion dollars in new humanitarian support for displaced Africans victims of drought in the first quarter of next year.
He acknowledged that African leaders and citizens are looking for more than just aid, but rather for investment, so the U.S. is expanding its relationship with Africa, moving from assistance to aid, investment to trade, 'moving from patrons to partners to help close the infrastructure gap.'
Biden reported that during his administration, a trillion and 300 billion dollars in infrastructure was approved to reduce the digital divide and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
'We are looking for partners who understand that the right question is not what can the United States do for the people of Africa? Is it what can we do together?' he asked.
Joe Biden has been on a 3-day visit to Angola since Monday, as part of the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Considered historic, as it is the first by a US President, the visit will continue on Wednesday with a trip to the province of Benguela, where he will learn about the operation of the Port of Lobito, an important infrastructure of the Lobito Corridor, as well as travel to the Food Processing Factory of the Grupo Carrinho.
In Benguela, Joe Biden will also participate in the Multilateral Summit on the Lobito Corridor, in which the presidents of Angola, Zambia, DRC and Tanzania are also expected to participate. ART /DOJ
