2023 U.S.-Africa Business Summit Brief to African Diplomatic Corps

On May 10, 2023 Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) President and CEO Florie Liser and Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States Onkokame Kitso Mokaila co-led a briefing at the CCA Offices for members of the African diplomatic corps in Washington, DC whose governments had been invited at the Head of State / Head of Government level to attend the 2023 U.S.-Africa Business Summit. The attendees applauded the theme of the Summit - “Enhancing Africa’s Value in Global Value Chains” - with several noting their respective governments were focused on this very topic. Ms. Liser, in her opening remarks, noted that in addition to this being the 15th U.S.-Africa Business Summit (USABS), 2023 is also the thirtieth anniversary of the 1993 founding of Corporate Council on Africa. “For thirty years, CCA has focused on building U.S.-Africa trade and investment relationships - while other organizations have U.S.-Africa trade and investment as one of many different areas in which they work, this is CCA’s only objective.” Ambassador Mokaila underscored the commitment of the Botswana President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi to the success not only of the Summit, but to advancing not only Botswana’s strategic trade and investment goals, but those of the entire continent of Africa. CCA’s Senior Director for Programs, Mr. Biova Kabine, and Advisor Mr. Laird Treiber provided an overview of the proposed agenda, to include the key thematic areas that would be discussed in plenary, head of state/government, and roundtable panel discussions at the Summit, slated to be held at the newly opened Royal Aria Conference Center - a private investment development - in the Tlokweng area of Botswana’s capital city, Gaborone. Additionally, Mr. Kabine provided an overview on both sponsorship and exhibit booth availability and benefits, as well as registration fee structures - including an ‘early bird’ registration discount. Both Liser and Mokaila underscored the importance of early RSVPs by national delegations via formal diplomatic correspondence to the government of Botswana to best ensure the sound arrangement of logistical and protocol formalities, and encouraged representatives to urge their private sector business communities and chambers of commerce to consider participation in the event, which was briefed to be expecting over 1,000 senior government and corporate officials. Following the briefing and a robust discussion, the attendees were invited to remain for more informal conversation over hors d’oeuvres and beverages.