WASHINGTON – U.S. Government officials from the Prosper Africa initiative, including the U.S African Development Foundation (USADF), will celebrate Africa Day at AFRICON 2022 to strengthen cultural and economic ties with Africa and its Diaspora. AFRICON is a four-day event held in Los Angeles, CA that brings together pop culture, music, food, innovation, activism, education, and more from the global Black Diaspora. The event celebrates the diversity of the African continent and the Diaspora through the lens of entertainment, media, technology, and leadership.
Prosper Africa and USADF are co-sponsors of the event. Travis Adkins, President and CEO of USADF, Akunna Cook, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Director for Africa at the White House National Security Council, will lead the delegation, alongside other officials. Since Prosper Africa’s launch in June 2019, the U.S. Government has helped to close 800 deals across 45 African countries for an estimated value of $50 billion in exports and investments with a focus on harnessing the power of our small and medium sized enterprises and businesses, especially those led by women and members of the African Diaspora.
ATTEND THE EVENT
Journalists and other members of the media interested in attending the event should register on the official AFRICON 2022 website.
SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW
Please contact Nina Prieur at nprieur@usaid.gov or 202-302-2713 to schedule individual interviews with the U.S. Government delegation throughout the event. Available for interviews:
- Travis Adkins, President and CEO, U.S. African Development Foundation
- Akunna Cook, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Director for Africa, White House National Security Council
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Prosper Africa is the U.S. Government 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 and connect with Prosper Africa advisors, visit www.prosperafrica.gov.
USADF is the U.S. Government’s independent African enterprise development agency. The agency invests in African grassroots and small- and medium-sized businesses, promotes local economic development, and creates pathways to prosperity for underserved communities. Utilizing a community-led development approach, USADF provides seed capital and local project management assistance to early-stage African enterprises and entrepreneurs addressing Africa’s biggest challenges around food insecurity, insufficient energy access, and unemployment, particularly among women and youth. To learn more, please visit www.usadf.gov or email Comms1@usadf.gov.