Emerson College Presents AMIP News Head, Nnoma-Addison, with Distinguished Alumni Award

Photo: Derek Palmer, Emerson College

Boston, Massachusetts – Saturday, June 2, 2018
Paramount Center, Robert J. Orchard Stage

Emerson College last Saturday recognized and presented AMIP News head, Frederick Nnoma-Addison, the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award alongside two other notable alumni. Incoming President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors Ms. Carla Lewis ‘86 presented the award to Mr. Nnoma-Addison during the Alumni Association Awards Breakfast at the Paramount Center. During his acceptance speech, Nnoma-Addison enumerated some of his accomplishments, but quickly followed it up to highlight some of the challenges he confronted before establishing AMIP News.

“I am really proud. Proud that… But the real story is the struggle and the battles that made each one of those possible; I will never have enough words to describe them, but they were worth it,” he said. Nnoma-Addison thanked Emerson College and the Alumni Association Board for “recognizing me in this manner.” Emerson College President Dr. Lee Pelton (pictured (left) with Nnoma-Addison above) later described Nnoma-Addison’s communications endeavors in the nation’s capital as “important work.” The occasion also marked the 50^th reunion celebration of the class of 1968. Washington, DC-based Nnoma-Addison is one of 37,000 Emerson alumni making a difference in the global media-communications industry.

Event Photo Gallery – Click here 

About Frederick Nnoma-Addison

Frederick Nnoma-Addison is a US-based, Ghanaian-born journalist, author, and media communications consultant. As president and CEO of AMIP News since 2004, he covers US-Africa-centered news and events in Washington, DC. In January 2018, the African Union (AU) Permanent Representative to the United States in Washington, DC, appointed him as the new publisher of Invest in Africa, a premium, official AU magazine that is distributed to African heads of state; government ministers; and political, financial, and corporate leaders worldwide.

In 2013, Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD) appointed Nnoma-Addison as a commissioner to serve on the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs for a four-year term. In 2016, Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) renewed his commission for a second four-year term. Between 2004 and 2008, Nnoma-Addison worked at Discovery Communication’s world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, as the special assistant to the president and general manager of the Discovery Channel.

He is the author and publisher of United States and Africa Relations: The Obama Presidency (2017), The United States & Ghana (2010, 2012), and The United States & Nigeria (2010). He has written for notable web platforms such as CNN.com and whitehouse.gov and has granted interviews to major networks such as CBS. He is also a guest lecturer on African affairs at the Foreign Service Institute of the Department of State as well as at other US colleges and universities. In 2014, he was a guest lecturer with President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Nnoma-Addison began his media career in Ghana as a young presenter on national television in the early 1990s. He received a journalism degree from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Accra, and a BA in Television Production from Emerson College in 2002.


Award Winners

https://www.emerson.edu/alumni/alumni-weekend/award-winners

About Emerson College

Emerson College is internationally recognized as the nation’s premier institution of higher learning devoted to communication and the arts. Energized by engagement with the creative life of Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands, students are independent minds from diverse backgrounds who develop their own personal voice and expertise in professions that profoundly shape society and culture in the 21st century. The College educates students to assume positions of leadership in communication and the arts and to advance scholarship and creative work that brings innovation, depth, and diversity to these disciplines. It’s mission is informed by core liberal arts values that seek to promote civic engagement, encourage ethical practices, foster respect for human diversity, and inspire students to create and communicate with clarity, integrity, and conviction.

Established in 1880 as a small, regional school of oratory, Emerson has evolved into a diverse, coeducational, and multifaceted degree-granting institution with a liberal arts rather than conservatory orientation. But our mission and focus remains largely the same as it was in 1880: to explore and push the boundaries of communication, art, and culture and, thereby, to contribute to the advancement of society.

US Announces Humanitarian Aid for Conflict in Nigeria

File Photo

United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Aid for People Affected by Conflict in Nigeria and Surrounding Countries

06/07/2018 11:19 AM EDT

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
June 7, 2018

The United States announces more than $112 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people in Nigeria and surrounding countries in the Lake Chad region affected by the ongoing crisis.
Nearly a decade of conflict perpetuated by Boko Haram and its offshoot ISIS-West Africa has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the region. More than two million people remain uprooted by the violence, and nearly 11 million people need assistance to survive. The funding in today’s announcement will provide life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people, including emergency food, nutrition treatment, shelter, health care, safe drinking water, services for survivors of sexual violence, and support to children separated from their families.

The United States is the largest donor for the humanitarian response in the Lake Chad region, having provided nearly $761 million since Fiscal Year 2017. While the United States remains committed to helping the people affected by this conflict, a comprehensive political and security solution is ultimately the only way to end their suffering and bring peace to the region. The United States calls on other donors to step up to address the basic life-saving needs of those displaced and the communities that host them.

—–

US Issues Statement on Violence in Mali

Violence at the June 2 Opposition March in Bamako, Mali

Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 4, 2018

The United States condemns the Government of Mali’s refusal to allow the opposition political march that was requested for June 2, and the subsequent use of violence and tear gas by security forces to break up the peaceful protest by political opposition leaders in Bamako.

Attacking unarmed marchers engaged in peaceful dialogue is an affront to core democratic values. The United States urges the Government of Mali to allow for peaceful assembly by all citizens and groups, and encourages the government to support public dialogue, freedom of association, and freedom of expression at all times and particularly now, in advance of the July elections.

The Malian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.

Vice President Pence Calls Egyptian President Al Sisi

File Photo

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2018

READOUT OF VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE’S CALL WITH PRESIDENT OF EGYPT ABDEL FATTAH AL SISI

Vice President Mike Pence spoke today with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to reinforce the strong partnership between the United States and Egypt. Vice President Pence expressed support for President Sisi’s release of more than 300 prisoners, including American citizen Ahmed Etiwy. The Vice President also raised concerns over other arrests of non-violent activists in Egypt and the two leaders underscored the need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza as well.

###

Dep. Sec. Sullivan Meets South African Minister Lindiwe Sisulu

Photo: US Africa Media Hub

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
May 21, 2018

The statement below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met today with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu on the margins of the G20 Ministerial in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Deputy Secretary welcomed President Ramaphosa’s new government and his commitment to transparency, and expressed optimism that an improved business environment would open doors to prosperity for both countries. He encouraged a closer South African alignment with U.S. priorities, such as working together on global security and keeping the pressure on North Korea to work towards a de-nuclearized Korean Peninsula. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Minister Sisulu discussed the importance of our bilateral trade relationship and pledged to continue high-level contacts between our governments.

US Issues Statement on Referendum in Burundi

Heather Nauert
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
May 21, 2018

The United States notes that the May 17, referendum process in Burundi was marred by a lack of transparency, the suspension of media outlets, and attempts to pressure voters. The government allowed vigorous campaigning by the opposition during the designated two-week campaign period, but numerous cases of harassment and repression of referendum opponents in the months preceding the vote contributed to a climate of fear and intimidation. The absence of independent observers also undermines confidence in the reported result.

We remain concerned that passage of the revised constitution will be interpreted as resetting presidential term limits. We recall the ruling party’s commitment under the Pretoria Protocol to respect the principles of the Arusha Agreement, including respect for term limits. Other amendments run counter to the power-sharing principles of the Arusha Agreement.

We condemn the government’s recent decision to suspend Voice of America and BBC broadcasts. This decision along with other media restrictions, arbitrary arrests, and harsh sentences for human rights defenders signals continuing limitations on civic and political space in Burundi. We call on the government to respect its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

The United States supports the Burundian people and hopes for a future in which they enjoy vibrant and sustainable economic growth, security, and fundamental freedoms.

Secretary Pompeo Calls Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

Photo: Al Jazeera

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

May 18, 2018

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On May 18, Secretary Pompeo called Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to congratulate the Prime Minister on his new position and offer the United States’ strong support for the government and people of Ethiopia as they continue efforts to deepen democratic reforms.

Secretary Pompeo’s Call With Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

May 18, 2018

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On May 18, Secretary Pompeo called Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to affirm U.S. support for Kenya’s security and continued economic advancement. They discussed our shared goals of countering terrorism, promoting regional stability, and ensuring good governance. Secretary Pompeo thanked President Kenyatta for his leadership in calling for an important national conversation to move the country forward following the 2017 election. They also discussed ways to work together to hasten the end of the conflict in South Sudan and ensure continued support for AMISOM forces in Somalia.

Secretary Pompeo Calls African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat

File Photo

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

May 18, 2018

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert.

On May 18, Secretary Pompeo called African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat to reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and the African Union. They discussed our mutual interest in advancing peace and security, good governance, and human rights across the continent. They also discussed the need to continue our cooperation on diplomatic efforts, including urgently working to end the conflict in South Sudan and engaging on election preparations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Secretary Pompeo Calls Nigerian President Buhari

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

May 17, 2018

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On May 17, Secretary Pompeo called Nigerian President Buhari. The Secretary noted the longstanding relationship between the Nigerian and American people and underscored the themes of the April 30 official working visit of President Buhari to the White House. He recognized Nigerian leadership across the African continent on priorities we share: countering terrorism and other threats to peace and security, creating economic opportunity, fighting corruption, and advancing democracy and stability. The Secretary welcomed continued cooperation in advancing our nations’ mutual prosperity.

US Breaks Ground on New Embassy Annex in Kenya

Photo: US Embassy Kenya

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Breaks Ground on the New U.S. Embassy Annex in Nairobi, Kenya
05/17/2018 10:57 AM EDT

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC

May 17, 2018

In a demonstration of enduring friendship and the important bilateral partnership, U.S. Ambassador Robert F. Godec broke ground today on the new U.S. Embassy Annex in Nairobi.

The new U.S. Embassy Annex will provide a secure, modern, and environmentally sustainable platform for diplomacy. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

Krueck + Sexton of Chicago, Illinois is the design architect for the project and Integrus Architecture of Spokane, Washington is the architect of record. Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Alabama is the construction contractor.

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 142 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 59 projects in design or under construction.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to host nations and support our staff in achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities represent U.S. values and the best in U.S. architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

US and Morocco Team Up to Promote Innovation in Waste Management and Pollution Mitigation

 

Photo: US Embassy, Morocco

New U.S. – Morocco Plan of Action Promotes Innovation in Waste Management and Pollution Mitigation
05/14/2018 03:04 PM EDT

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

May 14, 2018

On May 11, the United States-Morocco Working Group on Environmental Cooperation convened in Rabat, Morocco, to review achievements from the 2014-2017 Plan of Action and put forward a new 2018-2021 Plan of Action outlining areas for future environmental cooperation to focus on water, air, and waste technology solutions, and efforts to combat environmental crimes.

The 2018-2021 Plan of Action aims to create opportunities for innovation and technology solutions in areas such as solid waste management, recycling, and pollution monitoring and mitigation. Planned technical trainings will aim at reducing coastal pollution, marine debris, and mercury contamination. The Plan of Action also prioritizes cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and fisheries issues through training and consultations.

The United States-Morocco Working Group on Environmental Cooperation has a 14-year history of accomplishment in improving environmental laws, enforcement, transparency, and public participation in environmental decision-making. Such cooperation creates a more level playing field for U.S. business and U.S. environmental technologies providers enabling solutions ensure healthier lives abroad while supporting good jobs in the United States.

The United States’ longstanding trade-related environmental cooperation in Morocco, along with our programs with Middle East Free Trade Agreement partners Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain, are evidence of continued U.S. support to important allies in the region. Our environmental cooperation is a fundamental pillar of our engagement with the region, which helps support sustainable economic growth and build regional stability.
 
—–

Renewed Partnership to Help End AIDS and Cervical Cancer in Africa

PEPFAR
Washington, DC
May 11, 2018

PEPFAR, the George W. Bush Institute, and UNAIDS will accelerate lifesaving efforts in eight African countries

Washington, D.C.—In advance of Mother’s Day, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the George W. Bush Institute, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today announced The Partnership to End AIDS and Cervical Cancer among HIV-positive women in Africa. Pending congressional approval, the United States will invest over $30 million through the renewed partnership. It will build on the earlier successes of Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon by refocusing resources and advocacy efforts for greater impact in eight sub-Saharan African countries to prevent cervical cancer progression and mortality among HIV-positive women.
“Thanks to the generosity of the American people, PEPFAR has saved the lives of millions of HIV-positive women around the world,” said Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D., U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. “We must ensure these same women – mothers, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers – who are living with HIV and thriving do not succumb to cervical cancer. By focusing on eight African countries where the HIV prevalence rate in women is over 10 percent and cervical cancer mortality among women is the highest, this partnership will accelerate our lifesaving impact.”

“Building on the success of Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, the Bush Institute is thrilled to enter this renewed partnership with PEPFAR and UNAIDS, which will have an even greater impact and save more lives,” said Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the Bush Institute. “Our work has saved thousands, but this partnership will reach millions. On the fifteenth anniversary of PEPFAR, there is not a more appropriate time to deepen our partnership and see the vision of President and Mrs. Bush come full circle – that women who survive AIDS also live full lives free of cervical cancer.”

The partnership will ensure efforts are more effective and at a lower cost by refocusing on reaching HIV-positive women in eight target countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Women who are HIV-positive are 4-5 times more likely to develop invasive cervical cancer. According to UNAIDS, there are more than 3.5 million women living with HIV in these eight countries. The partnership also includes an accelerated strategy for prevention, screening, and treatment that would drastically reduce cervical cancer in HIV-positive women and significantly lower nationwide cervical cancer rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The partnership will allow us to respond to cervical cancer among women living with HIV like never before,” said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Undersecretary General of the United Nations. “The partnership’s new strategy, which includes cervical cancer screening every two years for women living with HIV over the age of 30, aims to reduce cervical cancer incidence by 95 percent among this population in the targeted countries.”

More than 100,000 women are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is the leading cancer killer of women.

###
About PEPFAR
PEPFAR is the United States government’s response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, which represents the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. Through the compassion and generosity of the American people, PEPFAR has saved and improved millions of lives, accelerating progress toward controlling and ultimately ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat. For more information, please visit www.pepfar.gov, and connect with PEPFAR on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
About the George W. Bush Institute
Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. For more information, please visit www.bushcenter.org.
About UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations – UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, and the World Bank – and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at www.unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

President Trump Issues Statement on the Central African Republic

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2018

NOTICE

– – – – – – –

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

On May 12, 2014, by Executive Order 13667, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in and in relation to the Central African Republic — which has been marked by a breakdown of law and order, intersectarian tension, widespread violence and atrocities, and the pervasive, often forced recruitment and use of child soldiers — threatens the peace, security, or stability of the Central African Republic and neighboring states.

The situation in and in relation to the Central African Republic continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on May 12, 2014, to deal with that threat must continue in effect beyond May 12, 2018.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13667.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 10, 2018.

###

US Issues Statement on the Civil War in South Sudan

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2018

Statement from the Press Secretary on the Civil War in South Sudan

In 2011, the United States was a proud and hopeful supporter of the newly independent nation of South Sudan.  Seven years later, the leaders of this country have squandered this partnership, pilfered the wealth of South Sudan, killed their own people, and repeatedly demonstrated their inability and unwillingness to live up to their commitments to end the country’s civil war.  The result is one of Africa’s worst humanitarian disasters.  The December 2017 cessation of hostilities has never been enacted; fighting across the country increases daily.  Famine is looming once again in multiple areas of South Sudan, and more than seven million people will face life-threatening hunger in the coming months.

The American people are generous and loyal. We have endeavored to help the people of South Sudan.  It is, however, the responsibility of the South Sudanese Government to protect and provide for its own citizens.  The United States Government will not continue in a partnership with leaders who are only interested in perpetuating an endless war characterized by ethnically-motivated atrocities.

The United States remains committed to working with regional leaders to bring peace and stability to South Sudan, and we commend Ethiopia’s efforts.  However we are deeply frustrated with the lack of progress toward an agreement, and we must ensure our shared efforts reflect the urgency of the situation. The only path to peace for South Sudan is through a negotiated arrangement for an inclusive transitional government that reflects South Sudan’s diversity and that provides checks and balances on political and economic power.  We are open to considering any process that can achieve this outcome.

Today, the United States will initiate a comprehensive review of its assistance programs to South Sudan.  While we are committed to saving lives, we must also ensure our assistance does not contribute to or prolong the conflict, or facilitate predatory or corrupt behavior.  Included in this review will be the U.S. support for the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism (JMEC) and other mechanisms intended to support the 2015 peace agreement known as the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS).

We assess that the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan is no longer inclusive. The forced exile of key leadership representatives who signed the ARCSS further demonstrates the Kiir regime’s cynical repudiation of the peace process. The promotion of UN-sanctioned individuals to senior government positions, such as Jok Riak to Chief of Defense Forces, demonstrates the South Sudanese Government’s disdain for international norms.  To that end, the United States will condemn any unilateral effort of the current Government of South Sudan to extend its power through sham elections, the legislature, or continued military offensives.

Only an inclusive, negotiated agreement is acceptable as a means to extend the South Sudanese Government’s term.  The Government of South Sudan has lost credibility, and the United States is losing patience.  The people of South Sudan deserve a government that is able and willing to lead the country to a stable future.

###

US Congratulates Tunisians on Municipal Elections

Photo: Arab Center, Washington, DC

Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC

May 7, 2018

The United States congratulates the people of Tunisia on the country’s first-ever free municipal elections, which took place on Sunday. These elections represented an important step in the consolidation of its democracy. As Tunisia meets the democratic milestones set out in its constitution, the United States continues to support Tunisia’s progress.

Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2018

President Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Julius Maada Bio

President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Julius Maada Bio on May 12, 2018, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Honorable Josephine K. Olsen, Director of the Peace Corps, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

•  The Honorable Maria E. Brewer, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone
•  The Honorable Cyril E. Sartor, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council
•  The Honorable Stephanie S. Sullivan, Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

###

YAATRA Ventures LLC Signs Export Deal with Uganda

Story: Department of Commerce, Washington, DC
05/03/2018 04:36 PM EDT

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross congratulates YAATRA Ventures, LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based manager of investment capital with a specific expertise in Africa, on its recently announced $2.85 billion Project Framework Agreement with the government of Uganda. The YAATRA Ventures-led Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium, which includes General Electric’s Baker Hughes division, will develop, construct, and operate of a new oil refinery company in Uganda.

The Department of Commerce’s Advocacy Center and Secretary Ross collaborated with YAATRA, the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and the U.S. Commercial Service in Kenya during the past seven months to secure the agreement. This project is a joint venture with the Uganda National Oil Company and is supported by the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the U.S. Trade Development Agency, and SACE.

“The deal represents a major win for U.S. commercial interests in Uganda,” said Secretary Ross. “It embodies what we can achieve when government acts as a facilitator, not just a regulator.”

“Africa and the West share a lot of history together and there is a need for them to use these past linkages to further economic business,” said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

“Our partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advocacy team and direct engagement from Secretary Ross with His Excellency President Museveni on behalf of YAATRA and the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium was critical to Government of Uganda’s recognition of U.S. support for the refinery project,” said YAATRA Ventures President Rajakumari Jandhyala.

The agreement is valued at $2.85 billion with approximately $1 billion in expected U.S. export content, supporting more than 5000 jobs in the United States and Uganda.

About the Advocacy Center: The Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on public-sector contracts with overseas governments and government agencies. It helps to ensure that sales of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance competing abroad. Advocacy assistance is wide and varied but often involves companies that want the U.S. government to communicate a message to foreign governments or government-owned corporations on behalf of their commercial interest, typically in a competitive bid contest.

About YAATRA Ventures: YAATRA Ventures focuses on developing innovative infrastructure solutions for the public sector that unlock productivity and drive economic growth in key African countries on the path to achieving middle-income status.