CONTACT
Nina Prieur
- Prosper Africa Secretariat
- nprieur@usaid.gov
Washington D.C. – About 250 entrepreneurs, investors, influencers, and government leaders took part in the investment-focused Innovators Gathering, honoring the influx of two-way investment and trade opportunities set to be announced and catalyzed during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
The Innovators Gathering: Investing in U.S.-Africa Cultural and Economic Ties was hosted on December 12 by the Secretary of State under the banner of the whole-of-government Prosper Africa initiative. The event was hosted in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, with support from Google. Speakers included Idris Elba, Yvonne Orji, Tony Elumelu, Mayors Bowser and Adams, Secretary Blinken, and more – with virtual remarks from former President Barack Obama. All came together to celebrate and catalyze partnerships between U.S. investors and African and Diaspora innovators, influencers, and entrepreneurs.
Former President Barack Obama highlighted Africa’s role as an investment destination driven by a thriving start-up culture. Obama noted that U.S. investors have closed more than 500 deals in Africa since 2017 totaling about $30 billion dollars, and he closed with an invitation and a challenge: “To anyone looking for investment opportunities, I encourage you to look to Africa. Because something special is happening there.”
“This gathering is part of our desire as Prosper Africa to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the U.S. and African nations. We are committed to driving investment in innovation and highlighting the opportunity and dynamism across the U.S.-Africa investment ecosystem,” said Leslie Marbury, Chief Operating Officer at Prosper Africa.
The evening included a panel discussion moderated by Special Representative for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe with panelists including Dr. A.V. Elumelu and Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs on “The Power of Investing in Africa,” a pitch competition hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, featuring dynamic African entrepreneurs, and a reception hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and catered by celebrity chef and entrepreneur Pierre Thiam.
Tony Elumelu shared, “At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we are pleased to have co-hosted this event on the eve of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The Foundation is delighted to launch a Coalition for African Entrepreneurs for foreign governments and development agencies in need of reaching last mile and vulnerable targets, and we look forward to a continuation of this partnership with the U.S. Administration.”
“At Google, we believe that digital transformation is critical to economic growth and opportunity across Africa. We’re excited to work with U.S. and African leaders from the public and private sectors to support African-led innovation and the people and businesses powering it,” added James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Technology and Society at Google.
The event kicked off the week of President Joe Biden’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held from December 13 – 15, by highlighting the United States’ longstanding commitment to Africa and the investment ecosystem they share. A key pillar of the Summit is the U.S.-Africa Business Forum on December 14, which is co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Corporate Council on Africa, in partnership with Prosper Africa. The Forum will include a Deal Room, hosted by Prosper Africa, where announcements of bold, new investment commitments between U.S. and African business and government leaders will be made public.
For more information visit: https://www.state.gov/africasummit/
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Prosper Africa is the White House initiative to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries. Through Prosper Africa, the U.S. Government partners with businesses and investors to advance deals, promote market opportunities, and strengthen business and investment climates. Together, we are driving billions of dollars of investment in Africa, building new markets for American products, and creating thousands of jobs for both African and American workers. To learn more, visit prosperafrica.gov.