Leadership Africa USA Maintains Follow Up Is Needed After Success Of 2014 U.S.-Africa Energy Ministerial In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
19 June 2014
Leadership Africa USA
Leadership Africa USA announced the successful completion of the June 3-4, 2014 U.S.-Africa Energy Ministerial which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"We are especially proud of the fact that our team w as asked to play a leading role in pulling key elements of the AEM together, and that we delivered", commented the group's President, Walker Williams. Leadership Africa USA provided program development support, while managing marketing, logistics, sponsorship and ensuring high level private sector participation in this historic event that welcomed well over 600 participants.
The AEM focused on the need for increased investment in African energy capacity and was attended by Ministerial representatives from over 40 African countries. Transparency, governance, technology and options for financing were principles identified as underpinning for an energy future for Africa.
The US delegation was led by Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz, and included executives from U.S. Export-Import Bank, USAID, the United States Trade Development Agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
"While the AEM has been hailed as a success, and there is agreement that a roadmap to catalyze sustainable energy development across African is needed, the key question is what's next?" stated Williams.
"There is a yearning for US leadership in Africa's energy future which cannot be ignored, this especially as we see clearly the engagement of other entities in the space. We hope that this Ministerial is merely the launching point for sustained engagement in Africa and its energy future", he concluded.
Leadership Africa USA looks forward to seeing how the U.S. Government will capitalize on the opportunities presented to it in the Ministerial.
Whether or not the African Leader's Summit, set to take place August 5-6, 2014 here in Washington, is the most obvious and appropriate place to do s o is up for debate, but the window of opportunity to leverage this momentum may soon be closing.
Category: Energy