THE AFRICA Ejournal
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THE AFRICA SEP/OCT 2019 EDITION eJOURNAL A NEWSLETTER BY THE CORPORATE COUNCIL ON AFRICA IN THIS ISSUE Preparing for AFCFTA: The African Union is 2020 U.S.-AFRICA moving ahead in planning for the African BUSINESS SUMMIT TO BE Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) HOSTED IN MOROCCO - P.2 which promises to be a game-changer for Africa. BUSINESS LUNCH AND Implementation is scheduled to start as of July ROUNDTABLE ON LINKING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 1, 2020, with potentially critical implications for HEALTH AND ECONOMIC BY FLORIZELLE LISER American companies engaged on the continent. GROWTH IN AFRICA - P.3 CCA organized three events to help the African NIGERIAN GOVERNORS Happy Fall! September kept us Union (AU) and U.S. companies prepare. ROUNDTABLE AND LUNCH hopping as CCA organized three WITH NIGERIAN TRADE AND events in New York on the sidelines of On September 11, we co-hosted with the U.S. INVESTMENT MINISTER the United Nations General Assembly Chamber of Commerce’s Africa Business Center RICHARD ADEBAYO - P.4 (UNGA). We have continued to shine a a workshop for a group of AU trade experts in light on U.S.-Africa trade the United States on an International Visitor Chamber) a panel on “The U.S.-Africa opportunities and challenges, Leadership Program (IVLP). The workshop Leadership Forum: Strengthening the particularly through the African included presentations on U.S. views of “Phase Future of U.S.-Africa Trade and Continental Free Trade Agreement Two” issues for AfCFTA: intellectual property Investment.” This dialogue featured (AfCFTA). We’ve also continued to rights, and competition and investment policy, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, highlight and contribute to U.S. as well as how this will be impacted by the Niger’s President Mahamadou government engagement with digital economy. Issoufou, Cote d’Ivoire Vice President business on the continent, while Daniel Duncan, and representatives advocating for African countries to In a September 23 event on the margins of from MTN, Abbott, and GE, speaking improve their business climates. UNGA in New York, we co-hosted (with the U.S. to an audience of over 200 people. ...continued on page 11 2 2020 U.S.-AFRICA BUSINESS SUMMIT TO BE HOSTED IN MOROCCO From L to R: Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala, Ambassador of the A cross section of high level officials at the 2019 U.S.-Africa Kingdom of Morocco and Florizelle Liser, President and CEO, Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique Corporate Council on Africa Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) will host Following a strategic selection process, Starting this year, CCA will hold the the next edition of the U.S -Africa Business CCA’s Board of Directors selected the U.S.-Africa Business Summit annually, Summit in June 2020 in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco as the host for the with the aim of providing CCA Morocco. Building on the momentum of 2020 Summit. Having rejoined the African members, investors, and key U.S.- this year’s Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, Union and signed the African Continental Africa business stakeholders with the which focused on advancing a resilient and Free Trade Agreement, Morocco has opportunity to stay abreast on the sustainable U.S.-Africa partnership, CCA will demonstrated its commitment to latest developments in business and return to the continent next June for the promoting economic development in investment across Africa. 13th iteration of its flagship conference. Africa, making it an ideal destination for the 2020 Summit and the first time CCA Since its inception in 1997, CCA’s “We are delighted to return to the will organize the Summit in North Africa. Summit has been considered as the continent for the 2020 Summit and look essential conference on U.S.-Africa forward to partnering with the Government Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala, business and investment. With over of the Kingdom of Morocco. The 2019 Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco 1300 attendees, the 2019 Summit Summit in Maputo, Mozambique was a to the United States, urged businesses to witnessed a remarkable level of tremendous success and the caliber of take advantage of the unique engagement, including participation engagement by U.S. and African business opportunities that will be presented at by heads of state, vice presidents, and and government leaders was outstanding. the Summit in 2020. “As the gateway to prime ministers from 9 African The partnerships forged, investment Africa, Morocco is committed to countries, ministers from more than opportunities identified, and deals closed increasing business and investment on 25 countries, more than 100 senior are still being cited by attendees, and we the continent and is pleased to partner U.S. government officials and an intend to expand on these outcomes at the with the Corporate Council on Africa to exceptional line-up of global business 2020 Summit in Morocco.” said Florizelle host the 2020 U.S.-Africa Business leaders from a variety of sectors. Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council Summit in Marrakech.” on Africa. 3 UNGA 2019 - BUSINESS LUNCH AND ROUNDTABLE ON LINKING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AFRICA A cross section of ministers and delegates at the Business Lunch and Roundtable on Linking Health and Economic Growth in Africa on the sidelines of UNGA 2019 On the margins of the 74th U.N. General Ms. Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator, Hon. Sicily Kariuki noted the struggle Assembly and the U.N. High-Level Meeting on USAID; Hon. Sicily Kariuki, Minister of around aligning political focus with Universal Health Coverage in New York, Health, Republic of Kenya; Hon. Dr. Alfred healthcare needs in Kenya, while Hon. Corporate Council on Africa hosted a Business Madigele, Minister of Health, Republic of Dr. Sidibé also noted challenges of Luncheon and Roundtable on Linking Health Botswana; Dr. Paolo Rotelli, President, San prioritizing healthcare against pressing and Economic Growth in Africa. The Raffaele Hospital(IRCCS) and San Raffaele issues such as security in Mali. Roundtable featured 9 African Ministers as University; Vice President, San Donato well as leadership from USAID and over 100 Hospital(IRCCS) Italy; Hon. Michel Sidibé, Hon. Dr. Madigele said given that U.S. and African public and private sector Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Botswana is vast and sparsely leaders focused on improving health Republic of Mali; H.E. Dr. Hala Zaid, populated, ensuring access and quality outcomes to drive economic growth on the Minister of Health and Population, care to citizens across the country is a continent. The Roundtable served as a Republic of Egypt; Hon. Jacqueline Lydia top priority of the Health Ministry. Hon. platform for participants to identify challenges Mikolo, Minister of Health and Population, Zaid also discussed how ensuring access to increased investment in Africa’s health Republic of Congo; and H.E. Dr. Aouélé to quality care is a priority in Egypt, sector and explore partnership opportunities Eugène Aka Minister of Health and Public especially considering its high aimed at strengthening health systems. Hygiene, Côte d'Ivoire were also in population. attendance. The event began with opening remarks from The panelists also discussed the President and CEO, Ms. Florie Liser as well as importance of leveraging public-private CCA Chairman of the Board, Dr. Jeffrey partnerships to achieve stronger health Sturchio, followed by special remarks from systems and healthier populations. Ms. Susan Silbermann, Global President, Panelists encouraged the businesses in Emerging Markets, Pfizer Inc. and Dr. Kamel the room to engage in increased Ghribi, GK Investment Holding Group investment in their countries’ health Switzerland & GSD Healthcare, Middle East. industry. The Roundtable ended with closing remarks from President and CEO The roundtable also featured a Ministerial of CCA, Ms. Florie Liser who thanked all Panel which was moderated by Dr. Jeffrey who participated and extended a special Sturchio and included Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth thank you to the event sponsors, Pfizer Aceng, Minister of Health, Republic of Inc. and Gruppo San Donato. Uganda; Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister CCA President and CEO welcomes of Health, Republic of Ghana; delegates to the business roundtable 4 UNGA 2019 - U.S.-AFRICA LEADERSHIP FORUM ON STRENGTHENING THE FUTURE OF U.S. - AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT From L to R: Damian Halloran, Abbott Laboratories, Florizelle Liser, From L to R: Rob Shuter, MTN, H.E. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Vice President of Corporate Council on Africa, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger, Côte d’Ivoire Farid Fezoua, GE, Scott Eisner, U.S.-Africa Business Center On Monday, September 23, 2019, Corporate He affirmed that the Department of President, Infectious Disease, Emerging Council on Africa (CCA), in partnership with Commerce is working to ensure that Markets, Rapid Diagnostics, Abbott the U.S. Africa Business Center, hosted the American SMEs are aware of the export, Laboratroies and Rob Shuter, President and U.S.-Africa Leadership Forum on investment and risk mitigation tools to CEO, MTN Group. H.E. Duncan outlined the Strengthening the Future of U.S. - Africa support businesses and promote trade with investment opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire Trade and Investment on the margins of the Africa. David Bohigian, Acting President and urged businesses to invest. Mr. Halloran 2019 U.N. General Assembly Meetings in and CEO, Overseas Private Investment and Mr. Shuter discussed the importance of New York, NY. Corporation (OPIC) similarly highlighted having a presence on the ground, citing OPIC’s vision to mobilize private Abott’s headquarters in Nairobi and MTN’s investment in order to expand U.S.-Africa presence in 17 countries across the The Forum kicked off with opening remarks trade. Through Connect Africa, OPIC will continent. The panelists also emphasized by CCA President and CEO, Florizelle Liser invest $1 billion over three years to the importance of investing in capacity and Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice projects supporting telecommunications building and collaborating across industries.