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What is Prosper Africa?

Published date:
Monday, 01 April 2019

Prosper Africa is a U.S. Government Initiative that unlocks opportunities to do business in Africa — benefiting companies, investors, and workers both in Africa and the United States.

The Goal — Substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.

The Opportunity — With six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world and over one billion consumers, Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in the global economy. Meanwhile, producers in Africa see a U.S. consumer market of more than 300 million people that already has a purchasing power of $13 trillion — the largest in the world. American companies not only bring significant capital, innovation, and proven solutions, but adhere to the highest standards of transparency, quality, and social responsibility. A greater connection between the U.S. and African private sectors will expand markets for U.S. goods and services and contribute to more self-reliant, prosperous, and stable African countries.

Our Response — For years companies have asked the U.S. Government to make it easier to access its trade and investment support services. Prosper Africa answers this call by providing a one-stop shop that makes the full range of those services available to U.S. and African businesses and investors. Through Prosper Africa, the U.S. Government helps to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans and the people of African nations like never before — advancing American and African prosperity and security, supporting jobs, and demonstrating the superior value of transparent markets and private enterprise for driving growth.

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Prosper Africa was launched in December 2018. The initiative coordinates U.S. Government resources to unlock opportunities to do business in Africa — a win for the United States and our African partners.

For the first time ever, Prosper Africa brings together the resources of over 15 U.S. Government agencies to connect U.S. and African businesses with new buyers, suppliers, and investment opportunities.

Building on the U.S. Government's already-robust presence in Africa, more than 15 U.S. agencies are working together to:

  1. Modernize U.S. Capabilities and Efforts
  • Coordinate U.S. Government resources in support of public and commercial transactions at all stages
  • Establish a one-stop shop where U.S. and African businesses can access the full range of U.S. Government services
  1. Facilitate Transactions
  • Help to develop, facilitate, expedite, and mitigate the risk of transactions between the United States and African countries
  • Expand U.S. companies’ access to information and provide financing support — where the private sector will not — to open the pipeline of opportunities in Africa
  1. Foster Fair and Accessible Business Climates and Robust Financial Sectors
  • Reduce barriers to private sector trade and investment
  • Promote transparency, competitiveness, efficiency, and quality
  • Advocate for sustainable economic policies that support private-sector led growth
  • Build the capacity of officials in African countries to implement sound trade and investment policies and agreements
  • Support the development and deepening of financial sectors in Africa that are key to increasing trade and investment

 

Participating Agencies:

U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of the Treasury
U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of the United States Trade Representative
U.S. Agency for International Development Export-Import Bank of the United States
Millennium Challenge Corporation Overseas Private Investment Corporation
U.S. Small Business Administration United States African Development Foundation
U.S. Trade and Development Agency  

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