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FIVE AFRICAN PRESIDENTS
MET IN U.S. WITH PRESIDENT BUSH, CORPORATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS
AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY CCA
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) June 10, 2005– President George W. Bush met five democratically elected African presidents at the White House on Monday, June 13th. The President praised them for their leadership in democratic change. Following the meeting, the five were honored for democratic institutional development and advances in international trade at a luncheon hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation at the Willard Hotel. Some 150 business and civil society leaders attended.
The five Presidents are Festus Mogae of Botswana, John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana, Armando Emilio Guebuza of Mozambique, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Mamadou Tandja of Niger. All five nations qualify under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to trade with the U.S. at lower tariff rates. President Bush also discussed increased trade with these countries which is anticipated to grow over the next five years.
Stephen Hayes, President of CCA, said, “The honorees have shown that democracy in Africa leads to better lives for all. American companies will benefit greatly through trade with these nations. Each is open to small and major business development as partners.” Hayes says that this represents some of the best new investment opportunities. “Americans need to open their minds to what great opportunity for economic growth now lies in Africa, and especially those nations such as these five that are leading the way to more open democratic societies. The right investments in Africa are a win-win proposition for America and Africa.”
CCA is a membership organization of nearly 200 companies, representing 85 percent of all U.S. private sector trade with Africa. The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation focuses on stronger social and economic relations between the U.S. and Africa.
The luncheon was a step to CCA’S US-Africa Business Summit in Baltimore held the following week, from June 21-24, 2005. Close to 2,000 business persons from some 65 nations attended, along with another six African Heads of State.
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