US President Barack Obama unveils US Africa strategy
15 June 2012 Last updated at 19:01 GMT
Read in PDF:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/africa_strategy_2.pdf
The White House has announced a new US strategy for sub-Saharan Africa,
which focuses on the continent's economic potential.
It also explores issues related to democracy, security and development.
President Barack Obama said African democracy had improved but corruption
was endemic in many countries and state institutions were weak.
The strategy comes as China's presence on the continent continues to grow
through investment and trade.
Mr Obama said he would work with Congress to develop preferential trade
agreements with African countries, while fighting al-Qaeda and its
affiliates on the continent.
"As we look toward the future, it is clear that Africa is more important
than ever to the security and prosperity of the international community, and
to the United States in particular," said Mr Obama, the US-born son of a
Kenyan man.
Exchanging entrepreneurs
The White House said its new
<
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/africa_strategy_2.pdf>
Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa provides "a proactive and forward looking
vision grounded in partnership".
A bid to increase trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa is among its
aims.
The US administration is reaching out to entrepreneurs through exchange
programmes. It will try to match US and Africa companies for business
opportunities.
The strategy is the result of four months of work, during which advisers
looked at how to address the challenges the continent faces from famine to
instability as well as the continent's economic potential.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the strategy is partly aimed at
encouraging the US and Africans to do business together.
Our correspondent says this approach could also provide an opportunity to
help revive the flagging economy in the US.
The announcement indicates a renewed focus on Africa, but as the plan is
short on detail for now it is unclear how the strategy differs from what the
administration has been doing so far, she says.
Some African countries already enjoy trade preferences with the US - through
the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) - on the condition they uphold
free elections and markets.
At an Agoa forum in Washington on Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said that Africa was the "land of opportunity".
"I want all of my fellow American citizens, particularly our business
community, to hear this: Africa offers the highest rate of return on foreign
direct investment of any developing region in the world," AFP news agency
quotes her as saying.
Last month, Mr Obama announced a $3bn (£1.9bn) plan to boost food security
and farm productivity in Africa.
US officials said that initiative was aimed at alleviating shortages as
world food supplies are being stretched by rising demand in Asia's emerging
markets.
Received on Sun Jun 17 2012 - 01:07:06 EDT
