President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, right, served as speaker during a discussion of technology and digital services as part of Wednesday’s opening sessions of the U.S.-Africa Business Summit 2022 in Morocco.
Masisi said he welcomed the opportunity to promote African economic development and opportunity, while making a specific case for investment in Botswana.
“We have the plans, the will, what we need are partnerships for financing these projects to bring the much needed developments to our people,” he said. Masisi touted transport and logistics as a target sector for infrastructure investment, especially the rail line linking Botswana with Walvis Bay in Namibia as well as neighboring Mozambique and Zambia.
Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita greeted participants on behalf of King Mohammed VI, with a number of Moroccan trade, health, agriculture and other high-level ministers on hand. Corporate Council on Africa also served as summit host
Also addressing the session was U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. She spoke about Prosper Africa and the expansion of Power Africa initiatives while noting new challenges faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“With regard to food insecurity, we are focused on the urgent need to increase food production and exports with and within Africa, a challenge made worse by Putin’s war in Ukraine,” Harris said. “To this end, since last October, the United States has pledged more than $7 billion in humanitarian and food security assistance across Africa.
“More broadly, our administration’s goal is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development across the continent, to expand capital flows, and to promote the vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that is so prevalent across Africa.”
The summit runs through Friday in Marrakesh. U.S. President Joe Biden also has announced a major U.S.-Africa leaders summit for December.
– africatimes.com
