U.S. Nominee for World Bank President Faces Competition from 2 Challengers

By Kirubel Tadesse
Friday, 30 March 2012

For the first time in history, the United States nominee for the World Bank presidency, Dr. Jim Yong Kim (center), faces competition from two other candidates. They are former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo (left) and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (right).

Two Challengers
The World Bank since its setup in 1940s has always been led by an American while a European has been at the helm of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Emerging economies however pushed for an open and competitive election for the seats this time. The US nominee says he welcomes the challenge. “I am very proud to be part of what is the first contested, merit based, open election ever for presidency of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim said during the interview which is the first one since his nomination. Dr Kim emerged as a surprise pick by President Obama. A physician and anthropologist, the Korean-American nominee has never led a financial institution and this has led to skepticism about his candidacy from experts including those in the US. One of his challengers, Ocampo on Thursday said he or the Nigerian nominee would make a better pick.

A welcome change at the World Bank
“I would only say that I have tremendous respect for the other candidates. I would simply offer my experience in development. I think those qualify me to be the president of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim told Capital when asked to comment about Ocampo’s remarks. Okonjo-Iweala is currently finance minister for Nigeria, a post she has held since 2011 after serving as a managing director at the World Bank since late 2007. Ocampo is a professor at Columbia University in New York and previously served as Colombia’s finance minister and also has held senior positions at the United Nations.

“The World Bank is an incredibly important institution; it is not like usual banks. It’s really focused on human development, on spurring economic growth in the poorest countries, on the wellbeing of people throughout the world. So, I feel I bring a very strong background…” Dr. Kim said rebuffing criticism that he lacks expertise. Kim says his background both as physician and anthropologist could be a welcome change at the World Bank.

“My approach to health care and to my work as a physician is not just as a medical problem. I believe providing people in very poor countries with best of what the world has to offer in terms of health care is exactly what is needed to help them along the path of growth. We know that now from many different studies and many different experiences that investing in human beings is the best way to setup a country on the path towards economic growth,” explained Kim.

“I come with a firm belief that investing in the health of the people is part of what is required to help that country along the path of development.”
As an anthropologist Kim says he spent his life ‘trying to understand what the world looks like from the perspective of people who don’t have education and health care services.’
“My orientation and the spirit that I bring is one that helps me understand what it is like to be in a poor country and understand what is possible if the right kinds of investments are made,” added Kim.

While he says economists’ views are critical, he insisted during the interview that he would bring different skills and perspectives and experience ‘from actual work in development’.
He says he understands that his experience is different from previous World Bank presidents.
“Fundamentally my experience is different I think than previous World Bank presidents, which means that I have a personal sense what it means to be born in a developing country,” Kim said referring to his roots in Korea which he left to the US at the age of five.

“I have watched very carefully as Korea went from being an extremely poor country to one that is now highly industrialized… so I bring my personal experience… and deep conviction that every country in the world should be able to go through the process Korea went through.”
Kim, the president of Dartmouth College, says his managerial experience including in higher education when he worked with scholars including leading economists will come in handy for the top job at the World Bank. He also held a senior post at the United Nations.

Ties with Africa
Dr. Kim says his commitment to Africa long predates his nomination to the top job at the World Bank. “My involvement and commitment to providing resources for African people so that they can go down the path to development long predates my nomination by President Obama.”
Dr. Kim earned a medical degree and an anthropology doctorate from Harvard, where he founded a non-profit agency Partners in Health (PHI) with medical school classmate Paul Farmer. PHI renders community-based healthcare services in a number of African countries. Kim, 52, was director of the department of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization and, while there, led a successful initiative to treat three million AIDS patients by 2005.

“I have a long standing commitment to this continent… at a time when people said HIV treatment would be impossible in Africa, I led efforts at the World Health Organization to get three million people treated. I think my experience from that particular effort was when people said things were impossible in Africa, I argued very strongly that things are possible in Africa and that we can establish HIV treatment… and I have been proven correct,” said Dr. Kim during the interview. The occasion was an important lesson for the world, says the nominee who states the world needs to be ‘wary of saying things cannot happen in Africa.’

“It is through my personal experience of Africa that I would go into the job with the Bank, understanding why Africa has to be among my very top priorities if named president of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim said touting his ties with the continent.

Pledge for reform
Dr. Kim has however vowed to place Africa among his top priorities if elected to head the world’s leading financial institution. Making a first stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of a global tour, Dr. Kim says Africa has defied the odds to register a faster economic growth in recent years and his presidency at the World Bank would mean a good thing for the continent.
“One of the things I have been watching with great interest is the fact that from the time in the early 2000s, when people had very little hope for the continent as a whole to develop economically, the performance of African countries including Ethiopia has been quite impressive,” said Dr. Kim on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Capital at the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa.
“So bringing my experience in development, bringing my experience in investing in human beings and also bringing my experience in really trying to understand how people in the countries experience development in the direction they want to go; I hope being elected president of the World Bank would mean very good things for Ethiopia and other African countries.”
During his stay in Addis Ababa, Dr. Kim met the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Erastus Mwencha and UN ECA Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh. He also met Ethiopian senior officials; Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Finance Minister Sufian Ahmed.

At times African leaders including Meles had their foes with the World Bank blamed for trying to impose Western ideals onto the continent. Dr. Kim says it is premature to make policy pronouncements. However, he has personal ideals he wants to introduce if elected president of the World Bank. “The principles are clear; one, country ownership is critical. Two, we must be evidence based in the way we set up policies and practices. We must know the way we are doing it is in fact supported by real evidence that says this is a best way to do the particular thing,” explained Dr. Kim.

“I would always be non ideological, I will always be focused on country involvement and will always be focused on evidence,” Dr. Kim promised of his potential presidency at the World Bank.

U.S. Nominee for World Bank Vows to Make Africa One of His Top Priorities

By Kirubel Tadesse
Friday, 30 March 2012 12:26

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the United States nominee for the World Bank presidency, vows to place Africa among his top priorities if elected to head the world’s leading financial institution.

Making a first stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of a global tour, Dr. Kim says Africa has defied the odds to register a faster economic growth in recent years and his presidency at the World Bank would mean a good thing for the continent.

“One of the things I have been watching with great interest is the fact that from the time in the early 2000s, when people had very little hope for the continent as a whole to develop economically, the performance of African countries including Ethiopia has been quite impressive,” said Dr. Kim on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Capital at the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa.

“So bringing my experience in development, bringing my experience in investing in human beings and also bringing my experience in really trying to understand how people in the countries experience development in the direction they want to go; I hope being elected president of the World Bank would mean very good things for Ethiopia and other African countries.”

Ties with Africa

Dr. Kim says his commitment to Africa long predates his nomination to the top job at the World Bank. “My involvement and commitment to providing resources for African people so that they can go down the path to development long predates my nomination by President Obama.”

Dr. Kim earned a medical degree and an anthropology doctorate from Harvard, where he founded a non-profit agency Partners in Health (PHI) with medical school classmate Paul Farmer. PHI renders community-based healthcare services in a number of African countries.

Kim, 52, was director of the department of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization and, while there, led a successful initiative to treat three million AIDS patients by 2005.

“I have a long standing commitment to this continent… at a time when people said HIV treatment would be impossible in Africa, I led efforts at the World Health Organization to get three million people treated. I think my experience from that particular effort was when people said things were impossible in Africa, I argued very strongly that things are possible in Africa and that we can establish HIV treatment… and I have been proven correct,” said Dr. Kim during the interview.

The occasion was an important lesson for the world, says the nominee who states the world needs to be ‘wary of saying things cannot happen in Africa.’

“It is through my personal experience of Africa that I would go into the job with the Bank, understanding why Africa has to be among my very top priorities if named president of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim said touting his ties with the continent.

Two Challengers

The World Bank since its setup in 1940s has always been led by an American while a European has been at the helm of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Emerging economies however pushed for an open and competitive election for the seats this time.

President Barack Obama’s nominee Dr Kim is being challenged by the Nigerian Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala and Jose Antonio Ocampo, a former Columbian Finance Minister, for the top job.

The US nominee says he welcomes the challenge. “I am very proud to be part of what is the first contested, merit based, open election ever for presidency of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim said during the interview which is the first one since his nomination.

Dr Kim emerged as a surprise pick by President Obama. A physician and anthropologist, the Korean-American nominee has never led a financial institution and this has led to skepticism about his candidacy from experts including those in the US.

One of his challengers, Ocampo on Thursday said he or the Nigerian nominee would make a better pick.

A welcome change at the World Bank

“I would only say that I have tremendous respect for the other candidates. I would simply offer my experience in development. I think those qualify me to be the president of the World Bank,” Dr. Kim told Capital when asked to comment about Ocampo’s remarks.

Okonjo-Iweala is currently finance minister for Nigeria, a post she has held since 2011 after serving as a managing director at the World Bank since late 2007. Ocampo is a professor at Columbia University in New York and previously served as Colombia’s finance minister and also has held senior positions at the United Nations.

“The World Bank is an incredibly important institution; it is not like usual banks. It’s really focused on human development, on spurring economic growth in the poorest countries, on the wellbeing of people throughout the world. So, I feel I bring a very strong background…” Dr. Kim said rebuffing criticism that he lacks expertise.

Kim says his background both as physician and anthropologist could be a welcome change at the World Bank.

“My approach to health care and to my work as a physician is not just as a medical problem. I believe providing people in very poor countries with best of what the world has to offer in terms of health care is exactly what is needed to help them along the path of growth. We know that now from many different studies and many different experiences that investing in human beings is the best way to setup a country on the path towards economic growth,” explained Kim.

“I come with a firm belief that investing in the health of the people is part of what is required to help that country along the path of development.”

As an anthropologist Kim says he spent his life ‘trying to understand what the world looks like from the perspective of people who don’t have education and health care services.’

“My orientation and the spirit that I bring is one that helps me understand what it is like to be in a poor country and understand what is possible if the right kinds of investments are made,” added Kim.

While he says economists’ views are critical, he insisted during the interview that he would bring different skills and perspectives and experience ‘from actual work in development’.

He says he understands that his experience is different from previous World Bank presidents.

“Fundamentally my experience is different I think than previous World Bank presidents, which means that I have a personal sense what it means to be born in a developing country,” Kim said referring to his roots in Korea which he left to the US at the age of five.

“I have watched very carefully as Korea went from being an extremely poor country to one that is now highly industrialized… so I bring my personal experience… and deep conviction that every country in the world should be able to go through the process Korea went through.”

Kim, the president of Dartmouth College, says his managerial experience including in higher education when he worked with scholars including leading economists will come in handy for the top job at the World Bank. He also held a senior post at the United Nations.

Listening Tour

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced earlier in the week that Kim will also travel to China, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil and Mexico through April 9.

“First and most importantly I am here to listen. Addis Ababa is becoming an extremely important diplomatic capital for all of Africa. I have come to intensively listen to people in Addis about their sense for the World Bank, to understand what their aspirations are for the Bank. So, it is truly a listening tour,” said Kim during Thursday’s interview about his first stop in Addis Ababa which is the seat of the African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

“I am also here to introduce myself. I know many people in the global health community but not all areas of the development community know who I am.”

Pledge for reform

During his stay in Addis Ababa, Dr. Kim met the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Erastus Mwencha and UN ECA Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh.

He also met Ethiopian senior officials; Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Finance Minister Sufian Ahmed.

At times African leaders including Meles had their foes with the World Bank blamed for trying to impose Western ideals onto the continent.

Dr. Kim says it is premature to make policy pronouncements. However, he has personal ideals he wants to introduce if elected president of the World Bank.

“The principles are clear; one, country ownership is critical. Two, we must be evidence based in the way we set up policies and practices. We must know the way we are doing it is in fact supported by real evidence that says this is a best way to do the particular thing,” explained Dr. Kim.

“I would always be non ideological, I will always be focused on country involvement and will always be focused on evidence,” Dr. Kim promised of his potential presidency at the World Bank.

Obama World Bank President Nominee, Kim, Meets Rwandan President Kagame

Picture: U.S. Treasury Department

March 28, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama’s nominee to the World Bank presidency, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame Tuesday evening in Washington to discuss the importance of the World Bank’s role in reducing poverty and supporting development for global economic growth.

“I was delighted to learn that Jim Kim has been nominated for this post, as he is a true friend of Africa and well known for his decade of work to support us in developing an efficient health system in Rwanda,” said President Kagame on Friday, March 23. “He’s not only a physician and a leader who knows what it takes to address poverty, but also a genuinely good person. President Obama’s nomination of Dr. Kim as President of the World Bank is a welcome one, and should resonate well with the many men and women who are working to transform lives around the world.”

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Tunisian and Zimbabwean Athletes and Coaches Attend U.S. Youth Basketball Exchange Program

Washington, DC
March 26, 2012

In the midst of the NCAA’s March Madness, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today an international sports exchange that will bring 18 teenage girl athletes and six female coaches from all corners of the globe to Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado March 25 – April 7 as part of its Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports Initiative.
The exchange, in partnership with the NCAA, USA Basketball, and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), will enable the young athletes and coaches from Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe to participate in a variety of activities including: basketball clinics with their American counterparts, teambuilding exercises, workshops on Title IX and nutrition, and community events associated with the NCAA’s Women’s Final Four Championship.

Part of the Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports Initiative, this exchange builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power,” which embraces the full range of diplomatic tools – in this case the game of basketball – to bring people together to foster greater understanding.
Under this new initiative, the Department is mobilizing all of its international sports programming, from Sports Envoys traveling overseas to Sports Visitors traveling to the United States, to increase the number of women and girls worldwide who are involved in sports. A cornerstone of this initiative is the creation of a new sports mentorship program that will connect women and girls from across the globe with their American counterparts.

Through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Division, the U.S. Department of State conducts sports exchange programs to engage youth worldwide. Sports Visitors are youth and coaches who travel to the United States for an exchange. Sports Visitor programs give young people an opportunity to discover how success in athletics can be translated into the development of life skills and achievement in the classroom. Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought more than 900 young athletes from more than 50 countries to the United States to participate in Sports Visitor program.

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President Obama Congratulates Senegalese President Elect Macky Sall

THE WHITE HOUSE
March 26, 2012
Statement by the President on Senegal’s Elections

I congratulate Macky Sall on his victory in Senegal’s presidential elections. Domestic and international observers report that the election was carried out transparently, freely, and reflects the will of the Senegalese people.

I also recognize President Abdoulaye Wade for his leadership and friendship to the United States during his presidency. I look forward to building similarly productive ties with President-elect Sall, while deepening the longstanding bonds between the United States and the Senegalese people. Senegal has, through this election, reaffirmed its tradition as a leading example of good governance and democracy at work in Africa and remains an example for its neighbors. The government and people of Senegal have once again demonstrated their commitment to political expression through peaceful, democratic elections, making it harder for non-democratic forces near and far to prevail. Today’s results deepen hopes across the continent and around the world that the quest for human dignity cannot be denied and that Africa’s democratic wave must continue.

The United States looks forward to maintaining its strong partnership and close engagement with the people and government of Senegal to continue to strengthen democracy, peace, and prosperity in the region.

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Honoring American Diaspora Leaders With Roots in the Horn of Africa

By Kris Balderston / February 03, 2012

Kris M. Balderston serves as Special Representative for Global Partnerships.

This week, I joined the White House in honoring 14 leaders in American diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa as Champions of Change. These leaders are helping to build stronger neighborhoods in communities across the United States, and are working to mobilize networks across borders to address global challenges.

Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of hosting these remarkable individuals for lunch at the State Department, with support from the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA). Throughout our lunchtime conversation, I was continually struck by the passion, expertise, insight, and personal commitment of each and every Champion, who traveled from California, Ohio, Minneapolis, Boston, and elsewhere to share their stories with us.

Later, as I listened to their powerful narratives, I was once again reminded of the power of diaspora communities, and of the dynamic partnership role they must play in our diplomacy and development efforts. They truly are some of our best ambassadors and partners in diplomacy.

As Secretary Clinton has said, diaspora communities are often the “first-movers” beating institutions to local challenges — whether via humanitarian response, or investment opportunities, or even non-traditional means of engagement such as arts or sports.

Through IdEA, we are committed to celebrating and supporting the efforts of changemakers like these outstanding individuals, who are innovating, investing, and promoting development and diplomacy in their American communities and their communities of origin.

Nigeria: Transforming Agribusiness through Investment

The Corporate Council on Africa and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Present
Nigeria: Transforming Agribusiness through Investment

April 10, 2012

To recapture Nigeria’s former status as West Africa’s breadbasket, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., and The Corporate Council on Africa are co-hosting “Nigeria: Transforming Agribusiness through Investment”, an investment forum and exhibition. The first of its kind event will showcase Nigeria’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda, revealing many opportunities in the agriculture sector. Participants will include a large Nigerian delegation of senior level Nigerian federal government officials, state governors and numerous Nigerian companies seeking to partner with and buy from American companies. The forum will highlight opportunities with experts from Nigeria and the U.S. Along with extensive networking opportunities, a trade exhibition will run concurrently with the forum.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Collaborate With Nigeria

Health Update

With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nigeria has revitalized its polio program to involve traditional, religious and government leaders at all levels. This effective collaboration has helped the country achieve a 96 percent reduction in polio cases in 2010 compared to 2009.

World Water Day - March 22, 2012

Source: United Nations

There are 7 billion people to feed on the planet today and another 2 billion are expected to join by 2050. Statistics say that each of us drinks from 2 to 4 litres of water every day, however most of the water we ‘drink’ is embedded in the food we eat: producing 1 kilo of beef for example consumes 15,000 litres of water while 1 kilo of wheat ’drinks up’ 1,500 litres. When a billion people in the world already live in chronic hunger and water resources are under pressure we cannot pretend the problem is ‘elsewhere’. Coping with population growth and ensuring access to nutritious food to everyone call for a series of actions we can all help with:

• Follow a healthier, sustainable diet;
• Consume less water-intensive products;
• Reduce the scandalous food wastage: 30% of the food produced worldwide is never eaten and the water used to produce it is definitively lost!
• Produce more food, of better quality, with less water.

At all steps of the supply chain, from producers to consumers, actions can be taken to save water and ensure food for all.
And you? Do you know how much water you actually consume every day? How can you change your diet and reduce your water footprint? Join the World Water Day 2012 campaign “Water and Food Security” and find out more!

Today March 22, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will announce a new U.S. Water Partnership (USWP) in Washington D.C. on Thursday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m. The USWP is a public-private partnership formed to share U.S. knowledge, leverage and mobilize resources, and facilitate cross-sector partnerships to find solutions to global water accessibility challenges, especially in the developing world.

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I Am Who I Am – Reflections of an African-American Ambassador in Zimbabwe

by Charles A Ray
March 20, 2012

Charles A. Ray serves as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

I’m an African-American who came of age during the turbulent years of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, when the process of dismantling the legal and institutional barriers faced by minorities began. It was a time when many Americans of color sought their roots in the culture from which their unknown ancestors came. People adopted African names, wore what they assumed to be African dress, and listened to African music — all things that gave us a sense of self and identity that institutionalized discrimination and neglect had taken away from us.

It was a time when people spoke of “going home to Africa.” Now, I want to be absolutely clear about this: I am intensely proud of that part of my heritage that sprang from the continent that is the cradle of humankind. But, I must also be honest; as someone who for the past fifty years has lived on four continents and worked in or visited nearly fifty countries, I think of home as the place where I came from, not the place where my ancestors — known and unknown — came from. That statement will, no doubt, not go down well with many, including many hyphenated Americans who mistake pride in the culture of their forebears for “belonging” to that culture.

I have a rather strict view of culture — I believe that you cannot be “of” a culture unless you grew up “in” that culture. You can like it; you can even have a surface understanding of it; but, you cannot be of it in the way a person can who grew up in it and who takes its norms and practices for granted. Imagine if you will an Asian child, adopted at birth and raised in the U.S. Midwest. Even if that child is taught his or her native language while growing up, the first visit back “home” will show that he or she is an outsider. I’ve seen this many times in Asia, and I know that the same holds true in other cultures as well.

Often, I’m asked if, as a U.S. diplomat of African-American descent, I feel that I am at home in Africa. Well, I’ve done two official tours of duty in Africa — one in West Africa and one in southern Africa — and have visited six or seven other African countries. While I thoroughly enjoyed each visit, at no time have I felt a sense of home coming. Why is that, you might ask? Consider this: unless an African-American is from the Gullah community of the Sea Islands off Georgia and South Carolina, or a recent immigrant from Africa, or, like our President, the child of a mixed marriage who knows where the African parent came from, he or she has no way of knowing from what specific place in Africa his or her ancestors came from. In cultures where tribal and clan identity is well established, if all one has in common is skin color, the sense of difference — of being an alien — can be profound. An African, upon meeting an African-American who doesn’t know the language or culture, and whose tribe or clan cannot be identified, must feel the same.

So, the sense of “coming home” is just not there. What I do have is a pride in knowing that my ancestors came from somewhere here. In that way, I am truly Pan-African; not of any particular place on the continent, but of the entire continent. I can’t speak for other ethnic groups, but I believe that deep down inside it must be much the same. Maybe not so emotional for those who have not been oppressed or discriminated against, but there nonetheless. Something like “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” who speaks the language, but who is not understood.

I am a number of things, but culturally I am an American. More specifically, I am an American from the state of Texas, with all that it implies. You can, if you wish, hyphenate me, but you cannot make me something I am not. I’m comfortable in that skin. I know who I am, and if those who meet me take the time to get to know me, that will be apparent. It might not make them comfortable that I don’t conform to the stereotype they have in their minds, but I only ask that they exercise patience and take me for what I am, rather than bemoaning that I am not what they first take me to be. I think if we all accepted who we really are, and did the same for everyone we encounter, the world would be a less hostile and more welcoming place.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Government. In honor of Black History Month, the Zimbabwe-U.S. Alumni Association hosted Ambassador Charles A. Ray on February16 for a discussion on “Being an African-American Ambassador in Africa.” Ambassador Ray was inspired to write this blog following a lively discussion of cultural differences, preconceived beliefs and what it means to be an American.

Charles A. Ray has been the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Zimbabwe since November 2009. Ambassador Ray’s prior diplomatic assignments include U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from 2002-2005, in addition to positions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Guangzhou and Shenyang, China. During his 29 year career as a diplomat, Ambassador Ray has worked with kings, presidents, soldiers and human rights activists on a variety of issues. He is also a 20-year veteran of the United States Army, retiring in 1982 with the rank of Major. Ambassador Ray is a native of Center, Texas, and the author of 12 novels and two non-fiction books on leadership. He and his wife, Myung Wook, have two sons and two daughters.

Statement by US on the Launch of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Washington, DC
March 21, 2012

The United States Government applauds the Governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe on the March 15th launch of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. This launch was the result of three years of technical and legal consultations and is a shining example of regional coordination in Southern Africa. The United States would also like to congratulate the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for its guiding role in this conservation project.

The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area will allow fragmented wildlife populations from all five countries to reconnect and roam across borders in an area spanning over 170,000 square miles (440,000 square kilometers). This project is a noteworthy step towards protecting the region’s unique wildlife and vital ecosystems as well as enhancing regional economic development.

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Conversations With America: U.S. Engagement with the African Union

U.S. Deputy Asst. Sec. Reuben Brigety Delivers Keynote Address to the Africa Travel Association

Washington, DC
March 16, 2012

Introduction
Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here with you all today. I would like to extend my thanks to Executive Director Edward Bergman and to the Africa Travel Association for hosting this event and for inviting me to take part in its 5th Annual U.S. – Africa Seminar. The United States and Africa have long been partners to ensure sustained economic development which reaches all sectors of society. Our goals for Africa fit squarely within Secretary Clinton’s economic statecraft agenda, which has helped refocus the way the U.S. government engages in its diplomatic operations, placing a heavy focus on economic growth and cooperation as a key pillar of our foreign policy. Secretary Clinton stated: “Our problems have never respected dividing lines between global economics and international diplomacy. And neither can our solutions.”

Last Economic Frontier
The principles embodied in the Secretary’s vision of economic statecraft are highly relevant to Africa — last global economic frontier. Sub-Saharan Africa has achieved impressive economic results over the past decade, including sustained economic growth rates of 5 to 6 percent per annum, growing private sector engagement, improved investment climates, and increased bilateral trade. It is my hope that these positive trends will continue in the years ahead, helping to simultaneously lift people out of poverty, while also creating jobs for American workers in businesses that are positioned to serve the growing African middle class — a middle class that increasingly has disposable income.
There is no question that robust economic development is the key to Africa’s future. Strong, growing economies help stabilize democracies, promote peace, and improve social and health conditions. Many countries in Africa are transitioning into a new phase of economic opportunity that, if managed well, could solidly launch individual economies on a path towards prosperity and peace – and open up new areas for U.S. business.

The U.S. government supports a number of different policies and programs to help Africans and Americans alike capitalize on these emerging opportunities. Whether through the low tariffs for thousands of goods in our centerpiece trade and investment vehicle, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, the export financing we provide through the Ex-Im bank, or project financing through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the U.S. government continues to dedicate significant resources to supporting two-way trade with Africa. We also routinely engage representatives of African governments both here in Washington and through our Embassies to underscore the importance of good governance, sound economic policy, and a strong regulatory environment as necessary policy choices to spur trade and investment, which in turn help drive economic growth.
One of our programs has specifically helped the tourism industry: our Safe Skies for Africa Program focuses on making air transport safer and has assisted African airport to meet the standards necessary for U.S. carriers to enter Africa. Through this program, Africa can realize better integrated and safer air transport, which will help to foster the further growth of aviation services between Africa and the United States.

We also continue to work in the area of facilitating airline access to international capital markets by encouraging African states to lift barriers to cross-border investments. We will continue working with African states to promote investment and sustainable growth in physical and transportation infrastructure.
Tourism

A large number of countries worldwide depend on tourism for significant revenue, and Africa is no exception. While reading the 2011 State of Tourism in Africa Report, I was struck by the fact that international tourism receipts in Africa totaled USD $44 billion in 2010. This signifies that the sector can become a powerful platform for Africa’s economic growth, and especially, U.S.-Africa tourism.

While it is still an emerging market within the continent, the regional tourism industry has been growing, and at an impressive rate, with tourism arrivals to Africa more than doubling over the last ten years; reaching 63 million persons in 2010 and employing 7.7 million Africans. Sustained economic growth means that African countries need not rely on foreign tourists alone.
Yet, in order for this growth to continue, much still needs to be done. Tourism is a highly competitive business. In the age of digital communication and advertisement, maintaining competitiveness requires the effective use of technology, information, and innovation. As a result, it is often how a state’s resources are managed, and how efficiently they are coupled with man-made innovations, which determines the success of tourist industries.

To this end, Africa’s growth potential both in the tourism industry and in general rests upon its ability to create a solid foundation upon which to develop: a foundation comprised of high-quality infrastructure coupled with strong institutions.
Infrastructure

Adequate infrastructure is crucial to a country’s growth and success as a tourism destination. Many African states still need to develop the infrastructure necessary for advancing tourism, including access to energy, transportation, and telecommunications.

The United States continues to work with African states in order to develop this needed infrastructure. In February, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs organized a successful energy trade mission to Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana with the goal of encouraging governmental reform and highlighting investment opportunities for American businesses. Later that month, Secretary Clinton hosted the first State Department Global Business Conference, which brought together representatives of overseas American business organizations and highlighted investment opportunities for U.S. businesses across the globe, including a regional breakout session. And I am sure you are all familiar with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the good work it is doing to help develop needed infrastructure in important markets.

Infrastructure will also be the centerpiece of our annual the African Growth and Opportunity Act forum. We hope that Africans will be able to take advantage of trade opportunities when we take the policy discussion a step further when we head out to a follow-on event, the U.S.-Africa Business Conference in Cincinnati. This two-day event in Ohio will focus on trade facilitation, with a special emphasis on infrastructure, and will enable African government officials and entrepreneurs to meet with U.S. businesses, thereby expanding trade networks and helping to identify new trade opportunities.

Infrastructure development is also important for African tourism. The tourism sector cannot develop as readily without the enhancement of health services and personal safety in tourist areas. Likewise, the formulation of transportation policies which establish a more integrated transportation network and clear regulatory system can help reduce the costs of traveling, and fuel competition and growth through the encouragement of greater investment.

A country’s success as a tourist destination also rests with how easily it can be accessed. Thus, sufficient aviation infrastructure is vital when it comes to the ability to attract both greater levels of tourism, and private sector investment for funding other necessary infrastructure requirements.
Best Practices

While there are numerous best practice models within the tourism industry that can be applied to help improve the industry across the continent, what works for one state may not always work for all. The preferences of consumers are formed by the cultural, geographic, or regulatory characteristics of the communities they are visiting. Understanding this relationship allows for the adoption of more fluid sector growth models, allowing communities and states to develop better overall business models, and to more efficiently direct investment.

The Serena hotel chain has stood as an example of the positive spillover effects associated with direct community involvement. Serena community based business models in East Africa have focused on consuming locally produced goods when possible, thus adding local suppliers and employees to the value chain and on utilizing information from, and the support of, local leaders and ethnic groups in the packaging of tours and the building up of local infrastructure to the mutual benefit of all.

Elsewhere in southern Africa, Namibia, with the support of a US $304.5 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, is working to improve tourism. Some $66 million of the compact will be devoted to improving tourism potential and park conservation efforts; efforts which include improving the management and infrastructure of tourist destinations such as Etosha National Park. Through reforms focused on better budget control and transparency, technical assistance, training for management personnel, and investments in local road systems, we expect to realize more private investment in the park and an overall increase in tourism throughout the country.

Conclusion
As Africa continues to grow, so too will its tourism potential. It is up to all parties involved, be they governments, consumers, investors, or local leaders, to work together to realize the goal of a more integrated, open, and developed Africa. I would like to thank the African Travel Association again for inviting me. I wish it continued success and look forward to future opportunities for U.S. – African cooperation and growth. Thank you.

U.S. Department of State Announces Expansion of TechWomen to Africa

File Photo

Washington, DC
March 13, 2012

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that TechWomen – an international exchange that uses technology as a means to empower women and girls worldwide – will expand to sub-Saharan Africa beginning in 2013. TechWomen will bring women working in the technology sector from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to the United States for a four to six week mentoring program with their American counterparts in the United States. The U.S. Department of State is currently accepting proposals to administer TechWomen in 2013. Please visit www.grants.gov for more information.
Following the U.S. portion of the exchange, U.S. mentors will travel to Africa to conduct workshops and follow-on training for women in the technology sector and young girls who have expressed an interest in pursuing a tech-based career.

Launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, TechWomen builds on her vision of “smart power” diplomacy. It embraces the full range of diplomatic tools, in this case technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and empower women and girls worldwide. TechWomen initially started in the Middle East and North Africa region last year. In September 2012, the U.S. Department of State will bring 42 women from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen to the United States for this peer mentorship. TechWomen is currently accepting applications for American mentors.

During the 2011 inaugural program, more than 20 leading U.S. companies participated in the public-private partnership by hosting international TechWomen.

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Historic Book Launched at the Ghana Embassy, Washington, DC

The United States & Ghana: Celebrating Over 50 Years of Friendship & Progress In Pictures

Washington, DC
March 6, 2012

Ghana’s foreign Minister, Honorable Muhammad Mumuni, has launched a commemorative book celebrating 55 years of U.S.-Ghana bilateral relations, during an Independence Day reception held at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, DC. The title of the book is “The United States & Ghana: Celebrating over 50 Years of Friendship & Progress in Pictures.” He described the book as “a monument to U.S. – Ghana relations.”

The United States & Ghana is the most comprehensive pictorial compilation of historic events and moments between the United States & Ghana since 1957. The 250 page historic volume uses over 500 carefully selected historical photographs and supporting text to recount U.S.-Ghana relations on a chronological time line as has never been done before. The second half of the book which is dedicated to U.S-Africa relations also uses historical pictures and text to recount U.S.-Africa relations since 1957. Some of the pictures are serious and others are funny but they all add up to make a compelling pictorial documentary. Among other things it is a reference book for the average Ghanaian and American, a history book for youth and students, a manual for diplomats and Foreign Service officials, a guide for investors and development workers, and a coffee table book for every internationally-minded home.

In his foreword the Foreign Minister wrote:

“This picture book could not have come at a better time to re-emphasize the importance of the bonds that exist between nations and I hope that it will inform, educate, and inspire similar scenarios around the world. Between a historical road map, a reference book, and a handbook for diplomats and anyone with interest in U.S. – Ghana and/or U.S. – Africa relations, this book captures and shares 55 years of international relations in a very refreshing and unconventional way and I am extremely proud of Ghana’s contributions.”

The book is a culmination of a 4-year research on U.S.-Ghana/Africa relations. It was authored by Frederick Nnoma-Addison, a Ghanaian-born U.S.-based journalist and published by AMIP News in Washington, DC. As many as 45 institutions in the U.S. and Africa including all U.S. Presidential libraries contributed to the publication. The book currently being marketed in the United States will be launched in Ghana later this year. To obtain copies of this historic volume visit www.amipnewsonline.org or call 202 460 3912 in the United States.

On Friday March 8, Mr. Frederick Nnoma-Addison, pictured below, presented a copy of the book to President Atta Mills during a town hall meeting at the Ghana Embassy. After he received his copy, the President autographed the rear of a poster board displaying the book cover while his Ambassador to the U.S. H.E. Ohene Agyekum (L) and Foreign Minister Muhammad Muminu (R) looked on.

Presidents Obama & Atta Mills (Ghana) Hold Bilateral Meeting In Washington

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Washington, DC
March 8, 2012
Today, President Obama welcomed the President of Ghana, John Atta Mills, to the White House where they discussed the growing commercial and economic ties between the two nations. Ghana was one of the first nations to host the President and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009. After their meeting, they spoke briefly with reporters, where President Obama outlined a number of initiatives where our countries are working together:

Transcript
3:55 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome President Mills and his delegation from Ghana. This gives me the opportunity to return the extraordinary hospitality that they showed not only me, but also Michelle and Sasha and Malia when we had the opportunity to visit last year. There are sometimes — there’s sometimes a tendency to focus on the challenges that exist in Africa — and rightfully so. But I think it’s important for us to also focus on the good news that’s coming out of Africa, and I think Ghana continues to be a good-news story. This is a country that has established a strong tradition of democracy, and President Mills and I were comparing notes — we’re both up for reelection — but what we agreed to is the fact that regardless of who wins and who loses, our countries’ commitment to making sure that the people have a voice and determine who it is that represents them in their government is what gives both our countries such strength.
And Ghana has proven, I think, to be a model for Africa in terms of its democratic practices. And I very much appreciate the efforts that President Mills has taken not only to ensure fair and free elections, but also to root out corruption, increase transparency, make sure that government is working for the people of Ghana and not just for the few. So we’re very appreciative of those efforts. In addition, Ghana has become a wonderful success story economically on the continent. In part because of the initiatives of President Mills, you’ve seen high growth rates over the last several years. Food productivity and food security is up. There’s been strong foreign investment. That trade and investment benefits folks back home here in the United States as well.

In fact, the President’s government recently is collaborating with a number of American businesses to build infrastructure inside of Ghana, which will create thousands of jobs here in the United States. And the trade that we engage in creates jobs for tens of thousands of people back in Ghana. So that’s a good-news story. And what we’ve also been able to do is collaborate with the Ghanaian government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation — they are a grant recipient — and it has helped to improve a wide range of infrastructure and institutions inside of Ghana. Our Feed the Future program — we’ve been able to help increase productivity there, and the Partnership for Growth — that is also another mechanism where we’re collaborating, for example, on power generation and credit to small businesses and medium-size businesses inside of Ghana.

Ghana has also been a leader, a responsible actor on the international stage, working in the region to help stabilize and reduce conflict there. They’ve been strong partners with us in the United Nations on a whole range of international issues. And as important, President Mills has consistently spoken out on behalf of human rights and making sure that everyone is treated fairly and not discriminated against inside of his country. So I am very proud of the friendship and the partnership between Ghana and the United States. I am confident that it will continue well into the future, beyond the tenures of these two Presidents. And I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to visit Ghana once again sometime in the future.

But in the meantime, Mr. President, welcome to the United States, welcome to your delegation, and we wish you all the best.

PRESIDENT MILLS: Thank you, Mr. President, for this very warm reception. My delegation and I are really honored to be here with the press to say a big thank-you to you, Mr. President, for the honor done us by singling us out for your first visit to Africa — it’s really inspired us.

And I’m also here to also thank you for the help that we have been enjoying and for the high level of cooperation and collaboration that exists between our two countries. We share the same values of democracy. We have come to accept that democracy is the only way. And democracy goes with development. And if you come to Africa, our people are yearning for only one thing — improvement in their daily lives. And there can be no development without peace, which means that we should do the things which will ensure that there is peace and that there’s no room for conflict.

The United States has been a model, and I’m happy that we are cooperating with one another on all kinds of fronts and they are yielding results. And I was telling Mr. President that when one of the roads was commissioned, and it was built with money provided by the MCC under our first compact, you should have seen the joy on the faces of the Ghanaians because there had been a radical transformation in their lives. I mean that is what governance is all about — to see people happy because they now have what they did not have.

So I assured the President that we have elections this year, but we are going to ensure that there is peace before, during, after the election, because when there is no peace, it’s not the elitists who will suffer, it’s the ordinary people who have elected us into office.

So we have a big challenge, and we know that some of our friends in Africa are looking up to us, and we dare not fail them. I have no doubt at all that we have embarked on a useful journey, and we’ll get to the very end. I told you that both of us are facing elections, but our ships will be able to sail safely to their final destination, I want to assure you.

So thanks a lot for the wonderful reception. We will go back with happy memories. And of course, this will also reassure our people that the kind of cooperation we started — from our first President — is growing from strength to strength.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MILLS: Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, everybody.

END 4:03 P.M. EST

Fact Sheet on the U.S.-Ghana Development and Economic Relationship
Ghana’s democratic and economic development successes exemplify the integral relationship between democracy, good governance, and development. Ghana also exemplifies many of the positive economic trends in Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, including Ghana, offering enormous potential for enhanced trade and investment by U.S. companies.

A Growing Trading Partner

• Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product grew by at least 13.5 percent in 2011 and will sustain a growth rate of at least 8 percent in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund.

• Two-way total trade between the United States and Ghana was valued at $1.9 billion in 2011, a 56 percent increase over 2010. U.S. exports to Ghana were valued at $1.2 billion, up from $963 million in 2010, and over the past five years exports of U.S. goods and services have increased over 186%.

• U.S. companies are among Ghana’s largest and highest profile partners, and U.S. companies are increasingly helping to build Ghana’s infrastructure, while adhering to strong environmental and social standards, and ensuring better development outcomes.

• Over the last twelve months, including new contracts signed this week, the U.S. has provided crucial assistance that has made $1.47 billion in U.S. exports possible. A few recent examples include: Miami-based Belstar is implementing a $250 million project providing medical equipment, services and infrastructure to benefit up to 100 hospitals throughout Ghana. The project will make a significant impact on Ghana’s ability to meet its growing need for modern health care infrastructure. The project is expected to generate $147 million in U.S. exports through initial procurements, with an expected total procurement amount of $253 million.

• In the past year and a half, companies such as General Electric and IBM have set up offices in Ghana, and others are expected to soon follow. U.S. companies are involved in a wide range of sectors from oil to cocoa processing, and Ghana now has three direct flights from the U.S., on American carriers.

Partners for Growth

• The United States continues to support Ghana’s economic development and reform efforts through bilateral and regional assistance programs.

• Ghana recently completed its five-year, $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to improve agricultural production, transportation and rural development.

• U.S. development initiatives seek to partner with Ghana to hasten the day when foreign assistance is no longer needed. This includes shared work to build on accomplishments to date and address the remaining constraints to economic growth through the Partnership for Growth.

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