The U.S. Bilateral African Chamber of Commerce hosted its first USBACC Africa Business Forum and fourth annual OTC African Delegation Reception at the Houston Downtown Club on Wednesday, May 7th 2015, during the Offshore Technology Conference. Members of the U.S. Bilateral African Chamber of Commerce, OTC African Delegates, and executives from Africa attended the event, for an open discussion on Security, Oil Prices, Local Content, and Business Development in Africa.
The keynote Speaker for the event was Jeffrey Jackson, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Other speakers include, Lida Fitts, from the US Trade Development Agency, (USTDA), Alexander Chequer from Mayer Brown, Kas de Carvalho, from Angola, Bob Brunner from Arik Air and several other speakers.
The event focused on the recent challenges of doing business in Africa, and other issues such as: corporate social responsibility, financing projects, work force development, sustainable energy and cooperation among institutions. The forum was an opportunity to promote inclusive growth between American and African SMEs while the reception provided the opportunity to network with prospective business partners and confer on new emerging markets in the Oil and Gas industry and various developing sectors, learn how to capitalize on the growth, and profitability of the energy industry in Africa..
The reception also was an occasion to award Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for her Outstanding Leadership to Africa. Heartbeat of Africa was also awarded with the “Community Service Award” for being the first Africa based radio on FM. To receive the award, DJ Obie pro, and Mercy Lago, the hosts of the show.
USBACC announced several new initiatives, for more information visit the the website at www.usbacc.org
Article by Nneka S. Achapu, Executive Director, USBACC
