From June 22 to 25, over 2,700 leaders from the U.S. and Africa's public and private sectors convened for the 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit. Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and Angola's President, this year's summit saw a record attendance, including 12 African Heads of State.
The U.S. delegation was led by Ambassador Troy Fitrell, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs. Other key figures included Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor for Africa; Thomas Hardy, Acting Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Constance Hamilton, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa; Connor Coleman, Head of Investments and Chief of Staff at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; and Tamara Maxwell, Senior Vice President for Small Business at the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
The summit highlighted a mutual commitment between U.S. and African leaders to expand trade and investment significantly. The main objective was to secure deals and commitments that would boost U.S. exports and investments in Africa in line with the Trump Administration’s Commercial Diplomacy Strategy for Africa.
During the event, more than $2.5 billion in new deals and commitments were announced between U.S. and African partners. This reinforced the United States’ strategy to prioritize trade over aid by engaging Africans as peers in investment-led growth.
Key agreements included:
- A Strategic Partnership Agreement between Amer-Con Corporation from Florida and Angola's Cargo and Logistics Certification Regulatory Agency to build grain silo terminals along the Lobito Corridor.
- A $170 million investment deal between Cybastion Technology Firm and Angola Telecom aimed at expanding digital infrastructure through Cybastion’s “Digital Fast Track” initiative.
- CEC Africa Sierra Leone Ltd.'s Memorandum of Understanding with AG&P to develop West Africa’s first LNG terminal sourced from the U.S., supported by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
- An Invitation to Partner signed by Ruzizi III Holding Power Company with Anzana Electric Group for a hydropower project spanning Rwanda and DRC.
- Ethiopia Investment Holdings' agreement with U.S. International Finance Partners to invest over $200 million in Ethiopian tourism infrastructure development.
- Hydro-Link's agreement with Angola's government to develop a $1.5 billion transmission line connecting Angolan hydropower sites to DRC mineral mines.
For further details or inquiries about remarks delivered by Ambassador Fitrell or Senior Advisor Boulos, contact AF-Press@state.gov.
