President Obama Speaks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum during the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

This afternoon, President Obama spoke to a crowd that included 50 African leaders, at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum in Washington, D.C. The Business Forum is part of the historic three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which is the largest event any U.S. President has held with African heads of state and government, and builds on the President's trip to Africa in 2013. 

The summit is an opportunity for the President to illustrate his approach to Africa. As he said at today's Business Forum, even as Africa continues to face many challenges — disease, poverty, violence, and hunger — there are many signs that a new Africa is emerging:

Some of the fastest-growing economies in the world.  A growing middle class.  Expanding sectors like manufacturing and retail.  One of the fastest-growing telecommunications markets in the world.  More governments are reforming, attracting a record level of foreign investment.  It is the youngest and fastest-growing continent, with young people that are full of dreams and ambition.

As Africa experiences continued growth, the President made it clear that America will be a partner in its success — "a good partner, an equal partner, and a partner for the long term."

We don’t look to Africa simply for its natural resources; we recognize Africa for its greatest resource, which is its people and its talents and their potential.  We don’t simply want to extract minerals from the ground for our growth; we want to build genuine partnerships that create jobs and opportunity for all our peoples and that unleash the next era of African growth.  That’s the kind of partnership America offers.

And we've made a lot of progress, as the President noted: "I’m proud that American exports to Africa have grown to record levels, supporting jobs in Africa and the United States, including a quarter of a million good American jobs."

"I want Africans buying more American products. I want Americans buying more African products."

While the President highlighted much of the progress that we have already made, he spent much of his speech announcing exciting new partnerships and initiatives — both in the private and public sector — that will create more economic opportunities for both Africans and Americans.

In conjunction with the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, a number of American companies are announcing new partnerships in Africa, he said:

Blackstone will invest in African energy projects.  Coca-Cola will partner with Africa to bring clean water to its communities.  GE will help build African infrastructure.  Marriott will build more hotels.  All told, American companies -- many with our trade assistance -- are announcing new deals in clean energy, aviation, banking, and construction worth more than $14 billion, spurring development across Africa and selling more goods stamped with that proud label, “Made in America.”

The President also announced a series of steps that the U.S. is taking to boost our economic ties with Africa:

1. The President called on Congress to renew and enhance the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Both sides — Republicans and Democrats — have said that they want to move forward, so he prodded Congress once more to ensure that they get this done before AGOA expires. 
2. As part of the "Doing Business in Africa" campaign, the President announced an additional $7 billion in new financing to promote American exports in Africa. Earlier today, he signed an executive order to create a new President's Advisory Council of business leaders to think about new and creative ways we can promote economic growth and job creation in the United States and Africa.
3. We will continue to partner with Africa to build the necessary infrastructure for a flourishing economy. A powerful example of this commitment is illustrated by the Power Africa initiative that the President announced last year in Africa, to help bring electricity to 20 million African homes and businesses. The initiative has already been so successful that today, the President tripled that goal, aiming to bring electricity to more than 60 million homes and business, with a total commitment of more than $26 billion to Power Africa.
4. The United States is going to continue to help more Africans trade with each other — because, as the President noted, "the markets with the greatest potential are often the countries right next door."
5. We will continue to empower the next generation of Africa and business leaders, through programs like the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which brought 500 young African leaders to Washington last week.

There's an underlying theme to all of these partnerships: The United States is committed to making substantial and long-term investments in Africa's future. Altogether — across government and private-sector partnerships — the commitments made today total some $33 billion.

"A long-term partnership with Africa — that’s what America offers," the President said. "That’s what we’re building. That’s the difference we can make when Africans and Americans work together."

Watch the President's full remarks below:

Watch on YouTube

Vice President Biden also spoke at the the Business Forum today, describing the strengthening relationship between the United States and Africa and highlighting the economic progress across the African continent.

"The question is no longer what we can do for Africa, but what we can do with Africa," the Vice President said. This represents an important and exciting shift in the dynamic between the United States and its African partners — and provides a look into our relationship with many African states moving forward.

"It's never, ever been a good bet to bet against America," the Vice President noted. "And America is betting on Africa."

Vice President Joe Biden gives remarks to the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, in Washington, D.C., August 5, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The Vice President then ended with a quote from one of his favorite Irish poets, Seamus Heaney:

One of my favorite contemporary Irish poets who just passed away, Seamus Heaney, once wrote in a poem called "The Cure at Troy" -- he said, "History says, don't hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime, that tidal wave of justice rises up, and hope and history rhyme."

We have a chance -- you have a chance in Africa to make hope and history rhyme in a way that never has occurred before. We want to be your partners, we want to compete for your business, we want to compete for your hearts and for your interests. And we want to see you succeed, because when you succeed, the entire world succeeds.

Watch the Vice President's full remarks below:

Watch on YouTube

You should also see:

• The 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
• Susan E. Rice: Previewing the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
• U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Climate Change Makes Sustainable Development Crucial to Africa