Kamala Harris to promote U.S. investment in Africa
The virtual U.S. Prosper Africa delegation will include senior government officials and leading U.S. investors that represent billions of dollars in assets. During the forum, the United States will demonstrate Prosper Africa’s private sector-driven approach—connecting dynamic U.S. businesses looking to invest, innovative African businesses raising investment, and global investors seeking the long-term returns offered by Africa’s fast-growing markets.
Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver virtual remarks on behalf of the U.S. Prosper Africa delegation to the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), December 1-3. The event is hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and aims to attract billions of dollars of investment in transformative development projects across Africa.
The virtual U.S. Prosper Africa delegation will include senior government officials and leading U.S. investors that represent billions of dollars in assets. During the forum, the United States will demonstrate Prosper Africa’s private sector-driven approach—connecting dynamic U.S. businesses looking to invest, innovative African businesses raising investment, and global investors seeking the long-term returns offered by Africa’s fast-growing markets.
The virtual delegation will engage broadly to catalyze greater investment in Africa and advance President Biden’s Build Back Better World agenda. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will launch an MOU with AIF to support long-term, early-stage project preparation. USTDA and AIF are collaborating to further a number of priority deals in Africa, which will be unveiled at the event. In addition, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will release a joint statement with the AfDB that commits to optimizing sustainable and inclusive economic growth opportunities in Africa through programs that address climate change and promote inclusion and equality for women, poor, youth, and marginalized populations with a focus on the energy and agriculture sectors.
The virtual delegation will include:
- Mahmoud Bah, Acting CEO, MCC
- Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally (ret.), Acting Director, USTDA
- Investors and fund managers from the Casey Foundation, Kah Capital, Bechtel, Globalstar, and more.
And other leaders from across the U.S. Government, including:
- Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council
- Jessica Davis Ba, Special Advisor for Africa, Office of the Vice President
- Akunna Cook, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State
- Travis Adkins, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Chris Van Es, Senior Vice President, Communications and External Engagement, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
- Fatema Sumar, Vice President, Department of Compact Operations, MCC
- Osvaldo Gomez-Martinez, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for African Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
- Cynthia Griffin, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa, Department of Commerce
- Leslie Marbury, Acting Chief Operating Officer, Prosper Africa
- Jessica Isaacs, Acting U.S. Executive Director, African Development Bank Group
- Lark Grier-Hapli, Deputy General Counsel, EXIM
- Heather Lanigan, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, USTDA
