29 October 2001

Bush Thanks African Officials for Anti-Terrorist Help

Washington - President George Bush opened the first-ever U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation forum October 29 thanking more than 30 African trade and finance ministers for their help in battling international terrorism. He also announced several new U.S. initiatives aimed at helping African nations expand their export markets.

The President told a packed audience in the Dean Acheson Auditorium at the State Department that despite the recent terrorist attacks in New York City and on the Pentagon building that killed more than 5,200 people, "Our common goal" of economic partnership and progress "will not be delayed or derailed."

With the help of African as well as other international partners, Bush said, ""We will fight and defeat the forces of evil where ever they are. I know that we can defeat terror now so that our children and grand children can grow up in free societies," he declared.

Sharing the dais with the President were: Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner were also in attendance. Members of Congress present included: Senator Richard Lugar and Representative William Jefferson. Prominent among the African diplomatic corps was Ugandan Ambassador Edith Ssempala, a vocal supporter for expanding U.S.-African trade ties.

Secretary of State Colin Powell who called him "a successful entrepreneur" and "a true friend of Africa" introduced the President. The two-day economic forum is an outgrowth of U.S. trade legislation called the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which Bush termed, "One of the most hopeful acts that Congress has passed." It "is a roadmap for how the United States and Africa can tap the power of markets to improve the lives of its citizens," he added.

(The act, voted into law May 2000, provides favorable export benefits to African nations reforming their economies along open market lines. So far, 35 sub-Saharan nations have been deemed eligible for AGOA.)

Bush said "I would like to begin by thanking the nations of Africa for their support following September the 11th" terrorist attacks. "America won't forget the many messages of sympathy and solidarity sent by African heads of states. He also said, "We are grateful for political support offered by the OAU (Organization of Unity).

Bush said, "Ambassadors from southern Africa presented a check to the American Red Cross to assist the families of the victims. And one Rwandan journalist wrote in a condolence book at the U.S. Embassy: 'we feel and understand what the Americans must be experiencing. The forces of evil must be fought and defeated where ever they are.' That represents exactly the firm resolve of the American people."

For Africans part, Bush said he was encouraged by the recent declaration in Dakar "by 28 African countries calling on all Africans nations to ratify the 1999 Algiers Convention Against Terrorism." Now, more than ever, Bush said, "It is critically important that this convention be ratified so that that African nations have additional judicial, diplomatic and financial tools to root out terrorism."

For America's part, the President said, "as nations begin to put these measures in place, the United States will look for ways to work together."

Turning to economic matters, Bush told his audience, "When nations open their markets to the world their people find new ways to create wealth. [And] every nation that adopts this vision will find in America a trading partner, an investor and a friend."

In that regard, Bush said AGOA is already producing results. "During the first half of this year the total trade with sub-Saharan Africa rose nearly 17% compared to last year," he pointed out. " Some countries have shown "staggering increases in trade," he said. "Four countries: Senegal, Seychelles, Eritrea and Madagascar saw their exports to the United States grow by over 100%."

The President emphasized, "Behind these numbers are investments and projects that are making a real impact on peoples' lives." For example, "In Kenya, the government projects that AGOA will create a 150,000 new jobs over the next several years."

Pledging, "the United States will work in partnership with African nations to help them build them the institutions and expertise they need to benefit" from AGOA, Bush announced the creation of a $200 million Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) "support facility that will give American firms access to loans, guarantees and political risk insurance for investment projects in sub-Saharan Africa."

In addition, he said, "I've asked our Trade and Development Agency (TDA) to establish a regional office in Johannesburg to provide guidance to governments and companies" to help them liberalize their trade laws and "improve the investment environment" to take advantage of AGOA.

Bush also announced the launch of the "Trade for African Development and Enterprise Program" whose initial $15 in funding will establish regional hubs for global competitiveness also geared to help African take advantage of the benefits of the U.S.-Africa trade law "to sell more of their products on global markets."

With such incentives Bush said he hoped "African nations will be a powerful voice in the launch of a new round of trade talks in Doha beginning next month."

Before leaving, Bush stopped to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with each of the African ministers in the auditorium.