Atlanta, Georgia — USAID Counselor Clinton White, on behalf of Prosper Africa and USAID, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Alliance for Black Business at the 124th National Black Business Conference, to extend the impact and increase the efficiency of their programs to improve measurable development outcomes for Pan-African Diaspora businesses in two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries.
The partnership embodied in the MOU directs both organizations towards enhancing the many aspects that impact trade and investment between Africa and the United States, including: improving access to capital and finance for Black-owned businesses engaged in international trade and investment activities; training programs tailored to empower Black Business Enterprises seeking to expand their scope and thrive in the global marketplace; and hosting activities such as networking events, business matchmaking activities, and trade missions to facilitate connections between Black entrepreneurs and potential Pan-African diaspora countries partners.
“Prosper Africa unlocks innovative solutions that enable this underserved and underleveraged economic Diaspora to fulfill its potential as a bridge to African economies,” said USAID Counselor Clinton White, during his remarks at the 124th National Black Business Conference.
“Our collaboration with USAID through the Prosper Africa initiative marks a historic moment for the global Black business community and the Pan-African economy. Together with our National Alliance for Black Business co-founders—Charles H. DeBow, III, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and The Honorable Mayor Johnny Ford, Founder of The World Conference of Mayors—we are not just building bridges between the United States, Africa, and the entire Pan-African diaspora, but we are forging a path of economic empowerment, sustainable development, and lasting impact for generations to come,” said Dr. Ken L. Harris, President/CEO, The National Business League and Co-Founder, National Alliance for Black Business
The National Black Business Conference featured 3 days of commerce-driven education, networking, and exchange with a combined alliance of 120,000+ members and 400+ chambers/leagues throughout the country and abroad, including a Pan African Diaspora Day. Prosper Africa and USAID’s connected U.S. buyers to African suppliers and introduced them to the U.S.-Africa Trade Desk, a platform that links over 20,000 U.S. retail buyers – like Kroger, Whole Foods, Sam’s Club, Dollar General, Walmart, and Target – to African suppliers of agricultural products. The U.S.-Africa Trade Desk was recently launched by USAID and Prosper Africa and is expected to increase African exports to the U.S. by $300 million in the next 18 months, providing a boost to products like coffee, tea, macadamia nuts, and other specialty foods.
Through Prosper Africa, the U.S. Government partners with businesses and investors to advance deals, promote market opportunities, and strengthen trade and investment climates.
About Prosper Africa
Prosper Africa is a U.S. Presidential national security initiative aimed at strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between the U.S. and Africa by catalyzing transformative two-way trade and investment flows. To learn more and connect with Prosper Africa advisors, visit prosperafrica.gov.
About USAID
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. The USAID Africa Trade and Investment program is designed to bolster USAID’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort under the Prosper Africa initiative. The program allows the U.S. Government to work closely with the private sector to shape activities that unlock business opportunities, particularly those that drive trade and investment into and out of African markets.