From June 22 to 25, more than 2,700 leaders from the U.S. and Africa convened for the 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the President of Angola. This year’s summit saw a record turnout with 12 African Heads of State, marking a significant moment in U.S.-Africa relations.
Ambassador Troy Fitrell, the Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, led the U.S. delegation, which included prominent officials focused on enhancing U.S. commercial engagement across Africa. Notable attendees included Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor for Africa; Thomas Hardy, Acting Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Constance Hamilton, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa; Connor Coleman, Head of Investments at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; and Tamara Maxwell, Senior Vice President for Small Business at the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
The summit underscored the shared commitment of U.S. and African leaders to significantly expand trade and investment. The U.S. aimed to secure key deals for American companies while establishing conditions favorable for increasing exports and investments in Africa, in line with the Trump Administration’s Commercial Diplomacy Strategy.
A key outcome of the summit was the announcement of over $2.5 billion in new deals and commitments between U.S. and African partners, reinforcing the U.S.’s prioritization of trade over aid, and positioning African nations as peers in investment-led growth.
Several major agreements emerged from the summit:
– Amer-Con Corporation & Angolan Cargo and Logistics Certification Regulatory Agency: A strategic partnership to construct and operate 22 grain silo terminals along the Lobito Corridor, aimed at enhancing Angola’s food security and agri-logistics capacity.
– Cybastion & Angola Telecom: A $170 million investment deal focused on expanding digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in Angola through an innovative digital initiative.
– CEC Africa & AG&P: A Memorandum of Understanding to develop West Africa’s first U.S.-sourced LNG terminal, aimed at providing affordable energy for industrial and household use in Sierra Leone.
– Ruzizi III Holding Power Company & Anzana Electric Group: A partnership agreement for a $760 million hydropower project that will deliver reliable energy to 30 million people across Rwanda and the DRC.
– Ethiopia Investment Holdings & U.S. International Finance Partners: A $200 million investment in luxury hotels and tourism infrastructure in Ethiopia, aligning with the country’s developmental priorities.
– Hydro-Link & the Government of Angola: An agreement to develop a $1.5 billion private transmission line connecting hydropower sites in Angola to mineral mines in the DRC, facilitating significant energy delivery to support regional mining operations.
The summit exemplified the strong potential for commercial ties between the U.S. and African nations, showcasing a future oriented towards collaborative economic growth and mutual prosperity.
