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The US government makes its big push for investment in Africa

by David A. Wemer | Atlantic Council

Buoyed by bipartisan commitment and a new government agency, the United States has taken new and significant steps to help drive investment in Africa, strengthen the region’s dynamic economies, create lucrative opportunities for US and African businesses, and advance US foreign-policy goals in the region.


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“America’s goal in [Africa] is to support locally led problem-solving for enterprise-driven growth, inclusive societies, and transparent, accountable governance,” US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said on October 16, as part of the opening session of the Investing in Africa’s Future conference hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The conference marked a major push by the Trump administration, building on decades of groundwork by Republicans and Democrats, to mobilize the US business community to invest in Africa and to shift the primary means of US engagement in the region from providing aid to promoting trade and investment.

The Trump administration’s approach to Africa, O’Brien continued, “seeks equal partnership with African countries built on [the] principles of mutual respect, accountability, transparency, trade, and investment, all underpinned by the rule of law.”



A key part of the United States’ strategy to build stronger partnerships in Africa is spurring investment and economic growth through the newly established DFC. Adam Boehler, CEO of the DFC, explained that “the African continent represents over half of the Development Finance Corporation’s investments,” encompassing a portfolio worth $8 billion for the continent.

Boehler joined Macky Sall, president of the Republic of Senegal, Filipe Nyusi, president of the Republic of Mozambique, and Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, chief of staff to the president of the Republic of Niger, to discuss US investments in Africa and the prospects for economic growth throughout the continent.

Here are some of the highlights from their discussion:


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David A. Wemer is associate director, editorial at the Atlantic Council. Follow him on Twitter @DavidAWemer.

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-us-government-makes-its-big-push-for-investment-in-africa/

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