FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 20, 2006

Contact:   Ilda Diffley

Tel:          202-835-1115

Email:      

General Electric To Chair First 

U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference

Washington, D.C. – General Electric Company (GE) is leading planning efforts for the first U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference in Washington D.C. from September 27-29, 2006.  Tim Richards, Senior Manager for International Trade and Investment at GE, has accepted the chairmanship of the committee tasked with planning the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)’s infrastructure conference that will showcase U.S. business opportunities in African infrastructure.

“I am excited about the conference, which is an opportunity to bring together government policy makers, technology providers, service companies, and financial institutions to advance real project ideas, and increase awareness of opportunities and needs,” stated Richards, who is also a CCA board member.

The planning committee, consisting of financiers and other U.S. private sector representatives, meets on a bi-weekly basis at CCA’s offices in Washington, D.C. to review the proposed program and infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

“The combination of high level speakers, focused workshops, and networking events will deepen understanding of the overall infrastructure environment in Africa, develop new ideas, and shape business opportunities,” Richards said.

Richards believes U.S. companies are well positioned to win bids in Africa.  After winning a bid in Nigeria last year, GE signed a contract to support 500 megawatts of power generation to Nigeria.

“U.S. companies have the technology and experience to assist African nations in building this infrastructure, specifically in the IT and telecommunication, energy, transportation, water, and security fields,” declared Richards.

The CCA U.S.-Africa Infrastructure conference will focus on Africa's key growth sectors including water, energy, roads and rails, transportation, as well as information and communications technology (ICT).

To register, visit africacncl.org  Inquiries can be directed to cca@africacncl.org

CCA, established in 1993, is a nonpartisan 501(3)(c) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. Visit CCA's website at africacncl.org.