THE 2009 U.S.-AFRICA BUSINESS SUMMIT
September 29 - October 1, 2009 -
Washington, D.C.
From
September 29-October 1, 2009 leaders
from the public and private sectors
hailing from 58 different countries
gathered for the 7th biennial
Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)
U.S.-Africa Business Summit. Themed,
Realizing the Investment Power of
Africa, the summit was held
September 29 to October 1, 2009 at
the Walter E. Washington Convention
Center in Washington, D.C. This
summit focused on the following
sectors: agribusiness, financing,
health, infrastructure, natural
resources development, power and
tourism.
While
the core portion of the program
occurred during these days, the
summit was bookended with a number
of auxiliary events that also
focused on trade and investment
between the U.S. and Africa, making
it a week-long event. In addition to
the more than 65 plenary and
workshop sessions, the summit
included an EXPO, two formal
dinners, an internet café, business
to business matchmaking program,
“Doing Business in [country]”
forums, a sponsor hospitality suite,
and one-on-one private meeting
space.
Many are calling this summit the
best to date. The event drew more
than 1,300 attendees—including
representatives from a range of U.S.
business and government agencies,
six African heads of state, more
than 390 presenters, a
record-breaking number of sponsors,
and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.
2009 U.S. – Africa Business
Summit Week In Review
Monday, September 28
The summit week began with an
unprecedented meeting of CCA’s
international counterparts from
Europe, South Africa, Canada and
Japan.
In partnership with the government
of Ethiopia, CCA organized an
Ethiopian-specific business event
that was part of the summit “Doing
Business” forum series. The forums
were attended by standing room only
crowds and presentations from each
country’s government officials and
business leaders. The “Doing
Business in Ethiopia” forum included
Getachew Ayele, president of the
American Chamber of Commerce in
Ethiopia and Donald Yamamoto,
principal deputy assistant secretary
of state for Africa.
Monday also marked the first day of
the U.S. – South Africa Business
Dialogue, a meeting co-hosted by CCA
and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA).
This invitation-only meeting allowed
U.S. companies and government
officials to discuss new investment
and partnership opportunities with
their South African counterparts. At
the end of the week, CCA President
and CEO Stephen Hayes and BUSA’s CEO
Jerry Vilakazi signed an agreement
of cooperation that seeks to embark
on a new era in the U.S. –South
Africa relationship.
Tuesday, September 29
The “Doing Business in…” forums for
Angola and Namibia were held on
Tuesday. Hosted in partnership with
the U.S. – Angola Chamber of
Commerce and government of Angola,
this forum included participation
from senior-level participants
including a U.S. trade
representative for Africa; Maria de
Abrantes, Angola Trade
Representative; and Tiago Gomes,
general secretary, Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Angola. It
should be noted that Angola had the
largest delegation from Africa
attending the summit. The “Doing
Business in Namibia” forum was led
by Hage Geingob, Namibia’s minister
of trade. This forum was hosted in
partnership with the government of
Namibia.
On Tuesday evening, registrants were
treated to a welcome reception and
dinner that was filled with
entertainment, a special segment on
the 2010 World Cup, and a keynote
address from African Union
Commission Chair Jean Ping.
Wednesday, September 30
The core summit program began on
Wednesday morning with the opening
plenary session, entitled,
“Financing: Africa Looking Beyond
the Global Financial Crisis.” Neal
Wolin, Deputy Secretary of the
Treasury opened the session with a
keynote address.
The remainder of the day was filled
with sector-specific plenary and
workshops; and networking breaks,
including a special presentation
made by CCA member Novus
International during their sponsored
lunch. Immediately following the
networking luncheon, attendees were
treated to an unprecedented panel
discussion that was introduced by
CNBC’s Erin Burnett and moderated by
Fleishman-Hillard President and
Senior Partner Jack Modzelewski.
Participating heads of state
included Paul Kagame (Rwanda); John
Atta Mills (Ghana); Denis Sassou
Nguesso (Republic of Congo); and
Fradique de Menezes (São Tomé &
Principe).
On Wednesday evening a private,
invitation-only dinner was hosted at
the CCA offices in honor of
President Kagame. Other private
dinners were also hosted this
evening by CCA member companies for
other visiting dignitaries.
Thursday, October 1
Thursday was the second and final
day of sector-specific sessions,
including a trade plenary session
that focused on bilateral, regional
and global trade agreements.
Panelists included Rob Davies, South
Africa’s Minister of Trade and U.S.
Trade Representative Ron Kirk. U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
delivered a keynote address
immediately following the trade
session.
During the Summit’s Gala Awards
Dinner, CCA presented its first-ever
lifetime achievement award and
business excellence awards to
companies operating in Africa’s most
vibrant sectors. For the Lifetime
Achievement Award, CCA honored
Ambassador Andrew Young for his
career-spanning commitment to
Africa. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the
President of Somalia’s transitional
government gave remarks at the
dinner.
Friday, October 2
Summit week concluded with the CCA-hosted
U.S. – Nigeria Business Dialogue.
Similarly to the U.S. – South Africa
Business Dialogue, this
invitation-only meeting allowed U.S.
companies and government officials
to discuss new investment and
partnership opportunities with their
Nigerian counterparts. CCA President
and CEO Stephen Hayes signed an MOU
with Frank Nweke, Director General
of the Nigerian Economic Summit
Group. The MOU seeks to deepen U.S.
– Nigerian business relations.
CCA’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit
is the organization’s flagship
event. The next summit is scheduled
for 2011.
Levels of Sponsorship
PLATINUM LEVEL
DIAMOND LEVEL
GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL
Abbot Fund
Acrow Bridges
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
General Electric Company
Hess Corporation
Johnson & Johnson
J-R Boulle Corporation
Merck & Co. Inc.
Pfizer Inc/
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Raytheon
SEACOM
SOC
Tetra Tech Inc.
BRONZE LEVEL
AECOM
Accession International
Africa Export-Import Bank
Africa Investor
African Review
American Cancer Society
Boeing Company
Buchanan Renewables
CCA HIV/AIDS Initiative
Development Finance International
EMEA FInance
Emerging Capital Partners
FT "This is Africa"
Gauteng Province
International Finance Corporation
MITC Investimentos
Motorola
News Africa U.K., Ltd
Pan African Capital Group, LLC
Patton Boggs LLP
SABMiller plc
SPIntelligent
Standard Bank
The Africa Channel
The Africa Report
United Bank for Africa Group
Kingdom Zephyr Africa Management
Supporter
Academy for Educational Development
Afropop
CARANA Corporation
Danya International
Ford Foundation
IPX International Systems, Inc.
Rockefeller Foundation
USAID
World Cocoa Foundation
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"The 2009 CCA U.S. – Africa Business Summit was an
amazing line up of very high powered and engaged decision makers and administration supporters.
All info was highly relevant and interesting in accordance with US policy for Africa and served to
further the business and trade development between US corporations/businesses and African countries.
Spot on!"
Melanie Baker
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“The U.S. – Africa Business Summit presents an extraordinary opportunity to forge business partnerships. It is a pre-eminent gathering of top level business executives and senior government officials from the U.S. and Africa.”
Sola Omole
Chevron Corporation |
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"At CCA’s U.S. – Africa Business Summit companies have ample time, in formal and informal settings, to discuss and share best practices that work to advance our business objectives.”
Will Stephens
Johnson & Johnson
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"I like the focus on making real business connections through the business matchmaking, the deal book, the networking sessions, and the attendees list. These were real tangible mechanisms that facilitated business development among the attendees.”
Monica Mason
John Deere
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“[The summit] was a “10 out of 10” in my opinion. There were many highlights, but one of my favorite parts was Steve’s introduction of Hillary Clinton, followed by her outstanding remarks. The CCA staff are the best you have ever had, and conducted themselves in a very professional manner through the entire program. Congratulations!”
William Guyton
World Cocoa Foundation
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“Thank you s-o-o very much for facilitating AORTIC’s participation in the recently completed and successful Corporate Council on Africa – U.S. –Africa Business Summit. It was wonderful and a very valuable experience for our organization! You have a first class operation there at CCA and all members of the organization should take pride in a job well done.”
Carrie P. Hunter
AORTIC
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