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INFORMATION
Corporate Council on Africa to Host
U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Baltimore,
June 21-24
U.S.
& African Private & Public Sectors
to Convene for Trade and Investment
Opportunities
WASHINGTON,
D.C: Against a backdrop of rejuvenated
international focus on promoting business
and trade with Africa, the Corporate
Council on Africa (CCA) is gearing up for
its fifth biennial U.S.-Africa Business
Summit to be held June 21-24, in Maryland
at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
Hotel. CCA expects the event to draw
more than 1,500 businesses and more than
one hundred high-level government leaders
from the U.S. and Africa.
"Our
primary goal is to strengthen trade and
investment ties between the U.S. and 53
African countries," said CCA president
Stephen Hayes. "This summit will provide a
forum for Fortune 500 and small and
medium-sized businesses to identify
potential business partnerships. In
addition, there will be workshops on key
issues and discussions on the impact of
international trade policies, as well as
pointers on American companies doing
business in Africa."
The
Corporate Council on Africa is comprised
of nearly 200 U.S. companies doing
business in Africa. Collectively, CCA
members represent nearly 85 percent of the
total U.S. private-sector investment in
Africa. The four-day summit is expected to
be the largest U.S.-Africa business
conference held in the United
States.
CCA's
2003 summit attracted 2,300 attendees,
including over 2,000 businessmen and women
from some of the world's major
corporations and small businesses, and
more than 100 African government ministers
and heads of state. Sixteen African heads
of state or heads of governments attended
the summit, as did President George W.
Bush, former Secretary of State Colin
Powell, Secretary of Commerce Donald
Evans, U.S. Trade Representative Robert
Zoellick, the chairmen of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate
and House Africa sub-committees. The
2003 summit also spurred many business
partnerships.
"CCA,
the State of Maryland and the City of
Baltimore are excited to welcome hundreds
of U.S. and African businesspeople and
influential leaders to Baltimore to engage
in candid and open dialogue about
increasing trade and investment in
Africa," Hayes said.
"We
are honored that the Corporate Council on
Africa has chosen Maryland to host this
important summit," said Governor Robert L.
Ehrlich, Jr. "The Ehrlich Administration
is committed to strengthening its
partnership with African nations, as was
demonstrated by Lt. Governor Michael
Steele's trade mission to three African
nations last year. We look forward
to the summit in June."
"Baltimore
is proud to host the 2005 U.S. - Africa
Business Summit," said Baltimore Mayor
Martin O'Malley. "This summit will
increase investment opportunities for
American businesses throughout the African
continent, increase understanding between
the United States and Africa, and allow
senior government officials to come
together to build and strengthen
partnerships between Africa and the United
States."
African
Arts and Crafts
Fair
More than 50 summit workshops and plenary
sessions will cover topics such as
agriculture, arts & entertainment,
education, energy and power, finance,
healthcare, housing, small business
opportunities, telecommunications,
tourism, transportation and
infrastructure. A U.S.-Africa Artisan Fair
also will showcase 25 exhibit booths
featuring high-end African handicrafts to
encourage trade
opportunities.
A
gala dinner will be held opening
night. An African head of state is
expected to present the keynote address.
In addition, there will be structured time
allotted for networking and business deal
making.
"Forward-thinking
business leaders are realizing Africa's
significance more and more," said
Hayes. "Africa is important to
America and the world &endash;
politically, strategically and
economically. For any business,
person or agency planning to do business
with Africa, attending our Summit is 'a
must.' It will provide an excellent forum
for exchanging a wide-range of ideas,
information about Africa as well as a
venue to develop business
partnerships."
For
more information about the CCA Summit,
please visit www.africacncl.org or
Register online: www.africacncl.org/CCA_Summits/2005_reg/step1.aspx.
Media
may apply online for accreditation at
Summit@africacncl.org.
The
Corporate Council on Africa
Founded
in 1993, the Corporate Council on Africa
is the leading American nonprofit,
tax-exempt organization dedicated to
enhancing trade and investment ties
between the United States and the 53
countries in Africa. CCA is comprised of
about 200 member companies, representing
nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private
sector investment in
Africa.
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