I believe there will be expanding opportunities for our products and services in aviation, road construction, public transit, maritime, and railroads. I can tell you today that the U.S. Department of Transportation already is working with commercial officers in American embassies across Africa to identify and assess transportation-related opportunities. They built a new road to open the border between their two countries. After peace came to war-torn Bosnia, one of the first projects to be completed was reopening a bridge across the mighty Sava River to Croatia. Without that bridge, Bosnia was cut off from the markets of Europe, and its people trapped and isolated.
Transportation is the tie that binds.
And we will be as supportive as we can. President Clinton understands this, which is why he pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in loan guarantees for African infrastructure investment. President Clinton is also asking U.S. agencies to increase technical assistance, so that Africa, like our partners in other regions of the world, can take full advantage of expanding trade and investment. Let me explain. These will help local officials select technologies that meet their specific needs, helping them avoid costly mistakes that we or others have made when building or maintaining their roads.