DCA Goes To Washington!

Oct. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- DCA , as part of the AFRICA BUSINESS CHAMPION delegation discussed its flagship project “DotAfrica” in a series of private and public meetings during 13-23 September 2010 with institutions and individuals made up of senior leadership of businesses and public policy think- tanks.  

Africa is increasingly “on the radar” of in many of the worlds capitals and definitely Washington DC was no exception. Whether its due to it huge market or tremendous natural resources – the world is taking notice of Africa.  DCA intends to provide an important BRIDGE through the provision of an exciting branding with “.Africa”.

DCA partnered with the “AFRICA AGENDA & ACTION FORUM"  and “AFRICAN LEADERSHIP RETREAT” (leadership groups of African professionals in Africa and around the world), and presented to the Africa Constituency and African American Unity Caucus,  to look at a new model for promoting the emergence of African Business Champions.

This AFRICAN TRADE & INVESTMENT ROUNDTABLE brought together next generation African entrepreneurs from Africa to meet with entrepreneurs from the Diaspora, U.S. government agencies concerned with trade in Africa, and other interested parties, to explore new models for strengthening trade and investment between Africa and the United States.   This forum provided an appropriate time to discuss the future of AGOA and Africa economic policy imperatives for the Obama administration and Congress.

In the roundtable hosted by the African Union Mission in their Washington HQ, Sophia Bekele, as one of the Panelist said, “the image of Africa currently is seen by America mostly as war, famine, conflict, and insecurity which contributes to the shortfall of trade and investment in Africa.  Economic opportunities are  created by such initiatives  as “dotAfrica” which is able to re-brand the Continent so that  its  product and services  are positively presented.   Towards this end, the dotafrica brand is very powerful  - UNITING the continent in a SINGLE domain and promoting regional integration.”

Each of these privately arranged group meetings and discussion roundtables were specifically designed to enable the African Business Champions Delegation to have high-level discussions on U.S. trade and investment opportunities across the African Continent and share insights and ideas on how Africans and Africans in the Diaspora can help encourage this kind of economic growth.  In addition, discussions focused on doing business in Africa and leveraging financing initiatives for investments on the African Continent via multi-lateral institutions in order to discuss the role of African Business Champions with US-Africa trade and investment strategies.  

Other key areas discussed include the new geopolitics agenda for a strategic alliance between United States and Africa especially with respect to the emerging role of China and the new proposal for partnership as proposed by France.    

Business people from all over the African Continent participated in this roundtable. They also attended several other activities and events  of the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference and Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series..   The African Business Champion's forum concluded with a generous reception Embassy of Angola, in Washington, D.C.

Finally, DCA was invited on Saturday September 18, 2010 to the 40th Annual Legislative Phoenix Awards Dinner hosted by the CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION (CBCF) at the Washington Convention Center.   The forum was graced by a key note remark from President Obama,  with his wife Michelle  in attendance. President Obama spoke of his Administration's work to deliver on his campaign promises and reaffirmed his Administration's commitment to restoring the economy and creating new jobs.  

Link to  President's speech.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFIK8ZU8koA



DCA wishes to extend a warm thank you to the organizers for being given the opportunity to be present and be part of such a wonderful occasion.

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DCA is a not-for-profit, non-partisan org incorporated in Mauritius Africa & will sponsor, establish & operate a TLD registry with global recognition & regional significance dedicated to the needs of Pan-African &African community. DCA Reg.ID.CT8710DCA90