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# Day 2: U.S.-Africa Business Forum

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held December 13–15 in Washington, DC, demonstrated the United States’ longstanding commitment to Africa and strengthened ties between the United States and African nations.

The 2022 U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF) took place on the Summit’s second day (December 14). Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Corporate Council on Africa, in partnership with the Prosper Africa initiative, USABF focused on advancing two-way trade and investment partnerships that bolster Africa’s role in the global economy, scale innovation and entrepreneurship, and drive advancements in key sectors.

Under the theme “Partnering for a Prosperous and Resilient Future*,*” USABF brought together African heads of state and U.S. and African business and government leaders to advance mutually beneficial partnerships that create jobs and drive inclusive and sustainable growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

## Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Schedule

              - 7:50 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.:  U.S.-Africa Business Forum, consisting of:                 - Charting the Course: The Future of U.S.-Africa Trade & Investment Relations
                - Building a Sustainable Future: Partnerships to Finance African Infrastructure and the Energy Transition
                - Growing Agribusiness: Partnerships to Strengthen Food Security and Value Chain
                - Advancing Digital Connectivity: Partnerships to Enable Inclusive Growth Through Technology
              - 1:30 p.m.:  USABF – Keynote Remarks from President Biden
              - U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner

### Videos

              - Watch the USABF Opening Session
              - Watch Trade and Investment Relations
              - Watch Building a Sustainable Future
              - Watch Growing Agribusiness
              - Watch Advancing Digital Connectivity
              - Watch USABF Signings
              - Watch USABF Luncheon
              - Watch the Spouse Program FLOTUS Roundtable
              - Watch President Biden’s Closing Remarks
              - Watch the Deal Room (Part 1)
              - Watch the Deal Room (Part 2)
              - Watch the Deal Room (Part 3)
              - Watch Leader Arrivals to the White House State Dinner

### Charting the Course: The Future of U.S.-Africa Trade & Investment Relations

Africa’s importance to global trade and investment will dramatically increase as its young population is set to double by 2050 to 2.5 billion people, representing more than a quarter of the world’s population, with a business and consumer market of $16 trillion. Africa is in the process of becoming the world’s largest single market via the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as a number of countries have enacted reforms to improve business environments and attract private investment. These reforms and harmonization under AfCFTA will make African companies increasingly competitive and promote their integration into global supply chains. African countries are targeting efforts to develop key industries that play to U.S. strengths, including automotives, pharmaceuticals, energy, and ICT, including strategies to attract investments in critical infrastructure. Despite the tremendous opportunities emerging, U.S. trade and investment with Africa

### Building a Sustainable Future: Partnerships to Finance African Infrastructure and the Energy Transition

African countries are developing strategies to reconcile the need to expand access to electricity for 600 million citizens – half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population – in the immediate term with the priority of building a sustainable energy system based on clean energy for the long term to cope with the increasing impacts of climate change. These strategies envision financing both the long-term transition away from fossil fuels, which represent 46 percent of the continent’s current energy mix, and expanding access to electricity, while also supporting the growing role Africa will play in international energy security as a source of the fuels of today and tomorrow, including the minerals needed for a greener economy. Amidst the overlapping crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global energy shortage caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine that have eroded two decades of positive gains, the need for innovative private-sector driven solutions is urgent. This session built upon outcomes from COP27 and G20 discussions, as well as lessons learned from existing partnerships between the United States and Africa, such as the South African Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). It highlighted strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities to develop and adopt new technologies and put in place the right regulatory and investment regimes that will attract the investment needed and better integrate African energy markets trans-continentally and globally.

### Growing Agribusiness: Partnerships to Strengthen Food Security and Value Chain

In sub-Saharan Africa, the agriculture sector provides employment to two-thirds of the region’s population and is responsible for 14% of GDP. The sector has the potential to drive broad-based economic growth, as women and youth comprise the majority of workers, and agribusiness is forecast to be worth more than $1 trillion by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the highest rate of agricultural growth compared to other regions, at 4.3% per year since 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have resulted in supply chain disruptions, reductions in income for farmers and consumers, and food price inflation across the world, with an exacerbated effect in African countries that depend on food imports to supplement domestic supply. Despite the challenges affecting the agricultural sector (such as access to finance, input price volatility, storage availability, and market connectivity) African governments and businesses are adapting to macroeconomic shocks and employing solutions to continue building the sector as a foundation for economic growth and source of greater food security. This session highlighted how partnerships between the public and private sectors can unlock the potential of agribusiness in Africa with increased productivity, strengthened value chains, and better integration into global supply chains.

### Advancing Digital Connectivity: Partnerships to Enable Inclusive Growth Through Technology

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Africa has the fastest growing population of internet users in the world and is a pioneer of dynamic ICT innovations. Favorable youth demographics, rapid urbanization, and increased consumer spending are driving higher mobile adoption, despite countries needing an estimated $10 billion per year in investment to expand network access and global backbone connections. The African digital ecosystem presents a unique and urgent opportunity to accelerate African growth while expanding opportunities for U.S. companies and the application of U.S. expertise. Accelerating the expansion of digital connectivity, access, partnership, and innovation can catalyze economic growth and support the continent to overcome myriad challenges, while providing opportunities for governments to enhance inclusions, transparency, anti-corruption, and good governance by leveraging e-government services. This session discussed opportunities and challenges for the U.S. and Africa to better collaborate to strengthen Africa’s dynamic digital economy, expand internet infrastructure, and advance inclusive, secure, and sustainable connectivity. This session also discussed how to improve digital skills and literacy, include MSMEs, and foster an enabling environment that maximizes the potential of the African Union’s Digital Transformational Strategy to create an inclusive, secure digital market in Africa by 2030 with digital trade, digital identity, and digital economy.

## Prosper Africa Deal Room

The 2022 U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF) Deal Room, hosted by Prosper Africa, closed on December 14, after a five-hour day of bold, new and expanded announcements of deals and partnerships from U.S. and African businesses, investors, and government leaders to advance two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.

President Biden announced at the Business Forum over $15 billion in two-way trade and investment commitments, deals, and partnerships that advance key priorities, including sustainable energy, health systems, agribusiness, digital connectivity, infrastructure, and finance.

The USABF Commitments Book features a selection of new partnerships and deals from the U.S. Government and private sector announced during the Business Forum.

Below are fact sheets on Commitments presented during the Deal Room.

## Deal Room Commitments Fact Sheets

            -  							Presentation of Green Energy Mining Deal															 
            -  							Presentation of Power Africa Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of Yeleen Beauty Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of mPharma Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of ABD Data Centers Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of Cisco and Cybastion Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of Exim/Afrexim Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of GE Healthcare/Standard Bank Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of ABD Acrow Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of DFC/Mirova Gigaton Fund Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of Visa Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of Prosper Africa Announcement															 
            -  							Presentation of NBA Africa Announcement															 

## Who Was Invited?

The invitation-only USABF, including the Prosper Africa Deal Room, convened leading U.S. and African businesses, investors, and government leaders, including heads of state, global CEOs, emerging business leaders, sports figures, and celebrities.

## Media Accreditation

All media representatives wishing to cover the Summit, including the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, needed a media credential.

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