Ahead of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, innovators, investors and high-profile individuals met with the Prosper Africa initiative, during which time Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about several investments.
The Innovators Gathering: Investing in U.S.-Africa Cultural and Economic Ties event highlighted the opportunities having public-private partnerships can bring, such as fostering democracy, employment, and overall economic growth, according to a Dec. 13 news release.
“The United States is committed to ensuring that young people can continue to bring their talents and hard work to the benefit of people across the continent and to the benefit of people in the United States,” Antony Blinken said, according to the release.
Blinken said the U.S. would be investing in the infrastructure that “provides the foundation for African entrepreneurship,” according to his remarks from a reception for African innovators. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation is investing $300 million in building data centers across the continent. The Young African Leaders Initiative develops skills and relationships that benefit both communities.
The Office of Global Partnerships will take a U.S. private sector delegation to Ghana in February to help more U.S. companies do business in Africa and to foster engagement, according to a media note issued Dec. 13.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is credited in part for the event with support from Google. The U.S. African Development Foundation teamed up with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, facilitating a $20 million deal with U.S. African Development Foundation, in September, Business Insiders Africa reported.
