The COMESA Business Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Corporate Council of Africa (CCA) towards forging new pathways for stronger US-Africa engagements which will include developing a joint implementation plan to facilitate joint programmes for knowledge sharing.
The signing ceremony took place on 27 July 2021 on the margins of the 13th US-Africa Business Summit. CBC Chairperson Mr Marday Venkatasamy described the occasion as a major milestone in the US-Africa business collaboration and partnership.
“Through this MOU we strengthen the relationship to facilitate closer collaboration, joint advancement of the private sector business agenda, and provide a platform for consolidating the voice of the Private Sector,” said Mr Venkatasamy.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the journey towards solidifying the relationship between the Councils for the period of two years, 2021 to 2023.
Expounding on the significance of the partnership, President and CEO of the CCA Ms. Florie Liser welcomed the new partnership:
“With the COMESA Business Council being one of CCA’s oldest and longest standing partners, we welcome this MOU and look forward to collaborating to support greater U.S.-COMESA trade and investment and stronger ties amongst our businesses.”
Apart from knowledge sharing, the parties are expected to develop a joint implementation plan for business to business and business to government facilitation, public and private sector dialogues, conferences and special events and trade missions.
The key focus areas will be on trade facilitation, trade-related infrastructure development, services sector development, small and medium-sized enterprise sustainability, agribusiness, regional value chains and value addition. Others are investment promotion and facilitation, women’s business leadership and capacity building/technical assistance.
The U.S.-Africa Business Summit is CCA’s flagship conference and is considered essential for those doing business on the continent as well as the U.S. and African leaders shaping U.S.-Africa economic engagement.
With over 100 speakers, the Summit hosted African Heads of State and Key Ministers, US Government Cabinet and Senior Officials, and more than 1,200 private sector executives and stakeholders from across the United States and Africa.