The Presidential Precinct and the U.S.-Africa Business Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Host Africa Business Forum on July 28

PRESS RELEASE

July 24, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) – The Presidential Precinct and the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will co-host the Africa Business Forum on July 28 to convene global business executives, government officials, academic leaders and 25 Mandela Washington Fellows, young African leaders from 18 countries in Africa.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), launched in 2010 by the U.S. government to support the next generation of African leaders. Through 2017, YALI will have brought 3,000 emerging African leaders, between the ages of 25 and 35, to the United States for leadership training, academic coursework and mentoring. The Presidential Precinct is among an elite group of institutions chosen by the U.S. Department of State to host the Mandela Washington Fellows.

The Africa Business Forum’s agenda will focus on the current commercial environment in Africa and opportunities for encouraging economic growth, good governance and private sector investment. The following multinational corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will participate in a day of panels and lightening roundtable discussions: Acrow Bridge, Pike Energy, CIPE, Walmart, UPS, Standard Bank, Google, Coca Cola, IBM, Kosmos Energy, Procter & Gamble and Albright Stonebridge. 

“The U.S.-Africa Business Center brings together the public and private sectors to bridge the gap between American business and Africa,” said Scott Eisner, president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber continues to support SME’s, and the Africa Business Forum is an important part of our joint efforts to support business development and economic growth both in the U.S. and throughout the African continent.”

Neal Piper, Executive Director of The Presidential Precinct, said: “We cannot ignore the impact the African continent will have on the future of a globalized economy. The Mandela Washington Fellows, some of the brightest minds in Africa, will have the opportunity to network and collaborate with those businesses committed to working in Africa. He added, “These emerging leaders will take away a host of high level connections and channels to develop new economic streams for their countries.”

Limited registration spots for the Forum are available here: http://bit.ly/2tCsbN0

The U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-Africa Business Center is leading the American business community in a new period of unprecedented engagement with Africa’s regional economic communities, the established African private sector, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Since 2009, the Chamber has made great strides bridging the gap between U.S. business and Africa. The Center was established to advance policies that attract greater investment in Africa and to support trade throughout the continent.

From the birthplace of modern democracy, The Presidential Precinct engages and inspires emerging leaders from around the world to address the most pressing challenges in their countries. Through virtual and physical exchange programs, leaders participate in professional development programs and stay connected through an alumni-exclusive digital network. The Presidential Precinct is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Charlottesville, VA that unites six institutions: The University of Virginia, William & Mary, and the historic homes of U.S. Founding Fathers –Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, James Monroe’s Highland and Morven Farm. These institutions offer leaders the combined academic resources of two of America’s premier public universities and the rich history of three presidential homes, in a setting that includes more than 10,000 acres of natural beauty, cultural sites and state of the art meeting spaces.

Media opportunities with panelists and Mandela Washington Fellows will be available on request. Contact: Drew Precious, Marketing & Communications Manager: dprecious@presidentialprecinct.org

For more information on the Mandela Washington Fellowship: http://presidentialprecinct.org/mwf/

For more information on the U.S.-Africa Business Center: http://www.usafricabusinesscenter.com/

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