The Africa eJournal

President’s Message - April/May/June 2025 eJournal

The 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda was more than an extraordinary gathering—it was a transformative catalyst for partnership and commercial engagement. With over 2,700 attendees, including 12 African Heads of State, 31 official delegations, 200 speakers, and 68 sponsors, this was the largest Summit in CCA's history.

Beyond the impressive numbers lies the true measure of success: impact. The Summit delivered a record-breaking $4 billion in trade and investment deals and commitments, underscoring the immense power of strategic partnership between the United States and Africa.

A Pivotal Moment in U.S.-Africa Relations

This record-breaking turnout reflects a pivotal moment in U.S.-Africa relations. While enthusiasm for deeper trade and investment ties has never been stronger, we face growing uncertainty around foundational pillars of our partnership – namely, new tariffs on African imports, the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the future of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and support for health-related initiatives like PEPFAR. Since CCA and its members are key stakeholders on these issues, we recently issued a statement and look forward to working with our U.S. and African partners to advance them.

Following USAID's official sunset on July 1, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a new strategic direction, stating: "Our new model will prioritize trade over aid, and investment over assistance." This vision was powerfully echoed by Angolan President João Lourenço during his opening remarks, as he called to "replace the logic of aid with the logic of ambition and private investment," emphasizing Angola's commitment to transformative partnerships.

President Lourenço's declaration of "a presence more oriented towards private investment, innovation, and the building of robust partnerships" set a confident, forward-looking tone for what proved to be a dynamic and deeply impactful Summit – one that is actively reimagining U.S.-Africa engagement.

Under the theme "Pathways to Prosperity: A Shared Vision for U.S.-Africa Partnership," we witnessed this vision come to life through truly collaborative planning with the Government of Angola. Their exceptional leadership and hospitality elevated every moment, from high-level dialogues to unforgettable cultural showcases celebrating Angola's rich heritage and promising future.

Strong U.S. Government Leadership Driving Commercial Diplomacy

We were pleased to see Ambassador Troy Fitrell, Head of the U.S. delegation to the Summit, play a key role in advancing the U.S. government's commercial diplomacy strategy. In his remarks, he captured the transformative moment we're experiencing in the U.S.-Africa relationship: "Africa is not the same place it was twenty-five years ago...the world has changed, the United States has changed, markets have changed, the economies are vastly different today than they were twenty-five years ago." He emphasized the untapped potential for American business engagement, noting that "we've got 300,000 business-ready American businesses who aren't doing business in Africa...We have to find them; we have to make sure they understand what's available here and bring them to the market as well."

Senior Advisor to President Trump, Dr. Massad Boulos, through high-level meetings, emphasized the critical link between peace, stability, and economic growth –particularly regarding the DRC-Rwanda peace initiative.

In his remarks, Dr. Boulos underscored America's commitment to responsible investment and transparent supply chains: "Meaningful economic growth can only take root in an environment defined by peace and stability. With lasting peace, the United States is prepared to support expanded investment, and U.S. companies will bring strong commitment to responsible business practices and reliable, transparent mineral and infrastructure supply chains."

This aligns perfectly with CCA's mission. We continue championing platforms that unite business and government leaders from the United States and African nations to advance responsible trade, sustainable investment, and regional integration. We recognize that peace and stability are not merely prerequisites but the drivers of mutual prosperity.

African Leaders Champion Investment-Led Growth

African leaders delivered equally powerful messages demonstrating shared commitment to investment-led growth:

In his keynote remarks as co-host of the Summit, Chair of the African Union Heads of State Assembly and President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, set the stage noting that "Today more than ever, the African continent is positioned as one of the great drivers of global growth, with a young, innovative and active population, abundant natural resources and growing integration of its markets. Africa presents itself as a privileged space for investment and growth opportunities." He highlighted that "economic ties between Africa and the United States of America have the potential to grow significantly. The opportunities for private direct investment are in key areas that correspond to both the continent's priorities and the comparative advantages of U.S. companies."

Chairman of the African Union Commission Mohamoud Ali Youssouf focused on the continental vision, declaring that "The African continent is considered by many as the powerhouse of the future global growth...the African Union Commission views U.S.-Africa private sector collaboration a game changer in our quest for shared prosperity."

Chair of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene emphasized the importance of multilateral trade frameworks: "The multilateral trading system is Africa's only opportunity at fair trade and fair investment; through our collective efforts, guided by clarity, purpose and mutual respect, we believe that we have an opportunity to forge ahead a new U.S.-Africa trade and investment relationship with AGOA at its core."

AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina presented compelling data-driven arguments for African investment: "Smart investors should pay attention to Africa...Africa offers high rates of return on investment. Don't believe me, believe the data." He cited UN Development Programme insights showing that investing in Africa delivers internal rates of return between 14 and 20%, while Moody's Analytics data reveals that Africa has the lowest infrastructure investment risk globally at just 1.9% cumulative losses due to default, compared to 6.6% in North America and over 10% in Latin America and Eastern Europe. "As we build transport corridors, let us also build strategic partnership corridors—between the United States and Africa...The U.S. and Africa's strategic partnerships should move beyond aid to investments...Act on the data, not perceptions. Think Africa. Think opportunities. Think competition."

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized energy partnerships and women's leadership, declaring that "Namibia is ready to work with U.S. partners to unlock sustainable development across strategic sectors."

Botswana's President Duma Boko brought sharp clarity to the digital agenda, stating that "Africa is beginning to take itself seriously—and in turn, will compel the world to do the same," as he championed connectivity, digital trade, and fairer financial systems.

Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema emphasized transparent governance and win-win partnerships, noting that "we are rich in resources—but we need partners who respect our sovereignty and help us unlock value for our people."

Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie spotlighted agriculture and tourism as growth engines, urging U.S. investors to "look beyond short-term gains and commit to long-term partnerships that build resilient economies and shared prosperity."

Together, their voices reflected a continent ready to lead – and expecting to be met with respect, investment, and shared prosperity.

In sum, strong U.S. and African government leadership in collaboration with the private sector will no doubt fulfill the Summit's theme of a shared vision for U.S.-Africa partnership that will set a path for mutual prosperity.

Welcoming New Members

We warmly welcomed new CCA members at our annual Members meeting in Luanda, with many participating directly in Summit panels, roundtables, and high-level dialogues. Remarkably, more organizations joined CCA at our exhibition booth during this Summit than in any previous year – a testament to the momentum we're building and the trust we're earning as the premier platform for action-oriented U.S.-Africa trade, investment and business engagement.

Gratitude to Our Summit Partners

The 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit was powered by generous support from more than 40 U.S. and African companies – from SMEs to multinationals. We were especially pleased to partner with the Angolan Agency for Private Investment and Promotion of Exports (AIPEX) whose partnership and collaboration facilitated Summit sponsorship by many Angolan companies.

To all our valued sponsors – thank you for your unwavering support. Your investment helped create a dynamic space for connection, dealmaking, and vision-setting that reflects the growing momentum behind U.S.-Africa trade, investment and commercial engagement.

Thanks to CCA Team, Welcome to New Staff Members, and Farewell to Senior Advisor

I am truly thankful for the incredible CCA team without whose dedication and hard work the Summit could not have been successful.

We're delighted to welcome Yolanda Nosakhare as our new Director of Member Relations. Yolanda brings over a decade of experience in strategic partnerships, member engagement, and organizational growth. With previous experience at the Department of Defense, Department of State, and FBI, her expertise in building high-impact relationships and deep commitment to service make her a tremendous asset to our team. She's eager to connect with you directly.

We're also pleased to welcome April Wells to the CCA team as the new Senior Advisor to me. A career member of the U.S. Department of State Senior Foreign Service, April brings 20 years of diplomatic experience spanning risk analysis, policy and strategy formulation, trade promotion and advocacy, and strategic communications across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Washington. April's deep expertise in international relations and trade advocacy will significantly enhance CCA's mission of strengthening U.S.-Africa partnerships.

As we celebrate new beginnings, we also honor an exceptional colleague's distinguished service. Ellen Tannor Richardson, who served as Senior Advisor to me on detail from the Department of State, retired from U.S. Government service and departed CCA on July 15th. Ellen's remarkable career as a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent, Diplomat, and Senior Foreign Service member brought invaluable expertise to our organization's mission of strengthening U.S.-Africa partnerships. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ellen for her dedication, wisdom, and friendship. Her contributions to CCA and to U.S.-Africa relations will have lasting impact, and we wish her all the best in her post-government endeavors.

Looking Ahead: 80th UN General Assembly

We cordially invite you to join us at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, where CCA will again host high-level dialogues with key Heads of State and prominent U.S. and African voices. Stay tuned for details – and if you're not yet a CCA member, now is the perfect time to join us for this high-impact week in New York.

The conversation will continue, progress will advance, and the Corporate Council on Africa will be there every step of the way, providing the information, access, and engagement opportunities needed to strengthen U.S.-Africa trade, investment, and commercial ties.

Together, we are not just imagining shared U.S.-Africa prosperity. We are building it.

Sincerely,  

Florizelle Liser
President & CEO
Corporate Council on Africa

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