The African Union (AU) Commission and the government of the United States have agreed to establish a U.S.-AUC Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group (SIWG) to promote and advance U.S.-Africa economic partnerships that create jobs, prosperity, and economic security both in America and across Africa.
The agreement comes after the chairperson of the AU Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met in Addis Ababa and reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Africa relationship through the AU, according to AU’s statement issued on Thursday.
Alongside their shared commitment to protecting peace and security on the continent, the two officials agreed on ways of building a peaceful and prosperous Africa through ensuring high-quality, trade-enabling infrastructure and promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The SIWG will serve as a platform for senior officials and technical experts across the AUC and the U.S. government to identify and advance opportunities for U.S. private sector investment and engagement in AU-backed infrastructure projects and related initiatives.
SIWG is also expected to advance the shared strategic priorities of the United States and the AU, its member states, and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities – enabling trade and logistics infrastructure, as well as continent-wide digital transformation.
Through SIWG the two sides have set to leverage AU convening authority and expertise alongside U.S. capital and innovative financing tools to develop critical minerals and commodities supply chains, energy networks, and regulatory harmonization, as well as to increase two-way trade, secure digital infrastructure, and improve health security that will make Americans and Africans safer and more prosperous.
As the United States and Africa seek durable, profitable investments to drive economic goals in place of foreign assistance, the SIWG will provide a foundation for strategic economic cooperation that will grow and shape the relationship for years to come, the statement added.
MG/abj/APA