More than 800 African and American decision makers, including nine African heads of state and high level government officials, participated in an intensive two day dialogue on issues and opportunities affecting the continent at the Corporate Council on Africa's 1999 Attracting Capital to Africa Summit in Houston, Texas. The April 24-28 gathering topped CCA's 1997 event making the 1999 Attracting Capital to Africa Summit the largest business summit on Africa ever held in the United States. This year's theme "Transforming Natural Wealth into Human Capital" speaks to one of the most important challenges facing Africa today.
Five African leaders, President Mogae of Botswana, President Mubarak of Egypt, President Rawlings of Ghana, Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius and President Nujoma of Namibia accepted the Global Marketplace Award on behalf of their countries, recognition of encouraging democracy and free enterprise. H.E. Ahmed Maher El- Sayed, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. accepted on behalf of President Mubarak.
President Clinton reinforced his commitment to the "new" partnership with Africa by sending senior administration officials to participate in this summit including Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley, Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater, Chairman James A. Harmon of the EXIM Bank, and President George Munoz of OPIC, among others. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson delivered the keynote address.
On the eve of the Summit, Maurice Tempelsman of Leon Tempelsman and Son was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Council on Africa. "I am honored to be the newly elected Chairman of this prestigious organization," said Mr. Tempelsman, "at a time in history when economics and politics intersect. Economic and social growth go hand in hand with democracy, and the private sector has an important and responsible role to play."
"Mr. Tempelsman's election as Chairman is a major crossroad in the Corporate Council on Africa's development," said Kevin Callwood, founding member and interim Executive Director of CCA. "He brings decades of experience and his election reflects the increased role that the Corporate Council on Africa plays in the dialogue between the African and American private sectors. On behalf of our 213 members we welcome Mr. Tempelsman to the helm at this important time in U.S. - Africa relations."
Carl Ware, President, Africa Group, The Coca-Cola Company presented the U.S. Corporate Citizenship Award to Francis Schaffer, CEO of F.C. Schaffer & Associates, and Kase Lawal, CEO of CAMAC Holdings, Inc. This award is presented in recognition of U.S. companies that are investing in Africa for the long-term and believe that a strong marketplace will help sustain economic growth across the African continent.
Our entertainment for the 1999 Summit was outstanding. Monday evening showcased Florence Quivar the renowned opera singer and culminated with The Platters on Tuesday evening.
Once again, we would like to thank all the people that made the Summit such a spectacular event, especially our major underwriters BPAmoco, CAMAC Holdings Inc., Exxon, Chevron, Citigroup, Continental Airlines, ENRON, HSBC Equator, Lazare Kaplan International Inc., Mobil, Ocean Energy, UNDP, and our underwriters CATERPILLAR, The Coca-Cola Company, CMS Energy, DaimlerChrysler, Eli Lilly and Company, General Electric, Intels and Sooner Pipe and Supply.
Please mark your calendars for our next Attracting Capital to Africa in 2001.
The Corporate Council on Africa has been at the forefront of promoting African private sector growth and encouraging expanded trade and investment in Africa by American business. Established and based in Washington D.C. since 1992, the Corporate Council on Africa is a non-partisan membership organization.
