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FIVE
AFRICAN PRESIDENTS
MET IN U.S. WITH PRESIDENT BUSH, CORPORATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY
LEADERS
AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY CCA
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) June 10, 2005– President George W. Bush met
five democratically elected African presidents at the White
House on Monday, June 13th. The President praised them for
their leadership in democratic change. Following the meeting,
the five were honored for democratic institutional development
and advances in international trade at a luncheon hosted by
the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and the Leon H. Sullivan
Foundation at the Willard Hotel. Some 150 business and civil
society leaders attended.
The five Presidents are Festus Mogae of Botswana, John Agyekum
Kufuor of Ghana, Armando Emilio Guebuza of Mozambique,
Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Mamadou Tandja of Niger.
All five nations qualify under the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) to trade with the U.S. at lower tariff
rates. President Bush also discussed increased trade with
these countries which is anticipated to grow over the next
five years.
Stephen Hayes, President of CCA, said, “The honorees have
shown that democracy in Africa leads to better lives for all.
American companies will benefit greatly through trade with
these nations. Each is open to small and major business
development as partners.” Hayes says that this represents some
of the best new investment opportunities. “Americans need to
open their minds to what great opportunity for economic growth
now lies in Africa, and especially those nations such as these
five that are leading the way to more open democratic
societies. The right investments in Africa are a win-win
proposition for America and Africa.”
CCA is a membership organization of nearly 200 companies,
representing 85 percent of all U.S. private sector trade with
Africa. The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation focuses on stronger
social and economic relations between the U.S. and Africa.
The luncheon was a step to CCA’S US-Africa Business Summit in
Baltimore held the following week, from June 21-24, 2005.
Close to 2,000 business persons from some 65 nations attended,
along with another six African Heads of State.
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