AAEA Attends Africa Union Forum at Chamber of Commerce

Commissioners of the African Union Talk Trade and Investment with the American Private Sector

AAEA President Norris McDonald, right, attended a forum at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that included presentations from delegates from the African Union (AU). The delegates are traveling to Washington, D.C. on an official visit with the State Department. The forum featured the members of the business community and NGOs in a discussion on the role the AU plays in American trade and investment on the African continent. The meeting was held in the Herman Lay Room and was followed by a networking reception in honor of the commissioners.

Ambassador of the United States of America to the African Union Michael A. Battle (in background in photo) spoke about the "America Involvement in the African Union." The keynote address was given by African Union Committion Chairperson Jean Ping. There were two panels:

1) Leveraging the African Union in Trade Relations

o Michael Battle, Ambassador of the USA to the African Union
o Florie Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa
o Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission

Both panel moderated by: Gregori Lebedev, Chairman, CIPE and Senior Advisor to the President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

2) Private Sector Engagement with the African Union

o Colonel William R. Clontz, U.S. Army (Ret.), and Vice President of the International Group, MPRI, an L3 company
o Rosa Whitaker, President, The Whitaker Group

Opening and Closing remarks were given by Scott Eisner, Executive Director of the Africa Business Initiative, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.