Washington (From Special Envoys) – The United States of America announced Wednesday an investment of 100 million dollars to increase access to reliable clean energy in sub-Saharan Africa.
The announcement was made in Washington by President Joe Biden, who said that this is an overall package of 370 million, to be invested in new projects.
According to the statesman, who was speaking at the Business Forum as part of the US-Africa Leaders Summit, in addition to the 100 million for Sub-Saharan Africa, another 20 million will be used to finance the production and purchase of fertilizers.
The main beneficiaries of these fertilizers, he explained, will be small farmers and women farmers. Of the total package of 350 million, he said.
The US$ 10 million will be used to support small and medium-sized enterprises and for the supply of drinking water. Joe Biden also said that his country has collectively mobilized USD 600 billion for the next five years.
According to the President, his country continues to support innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, stressing that he intends to invest US$350 million to make the digital transformation in Africa. According to Joe Biden, there is the intention to facilitate another US$450 million of funding for the entire African continent.
This will include partnerships, such as Microsoft and Visat collaboration, giving access to five million Africans, part of Microsoft’s commitment to access 100 million people by the year 2025. According to Biden, this will include partnerships between American and African companies to make the digital environment reliable and secure. He also announced that Sisco Systems and Saubastian, a small diaspora company, has set aside $800 million for new contracts with African countries.
For its part, Joe Biden said, the multinational Visa has a billion dollars to expand its operations, including more cell phone services for small and medium-sized businesses in Africa. GE Extended Bank, meanwhile, will provide US$80 million to improve healthcare services and access to top-of-the-line clinical equipment in Africa. All this, Joe Biden said, means $15 billion in new business to improve the lives of African people.
“These are long-term investments that will bring benefits to the people, good jobs, including here in the U.S., and expand opportunity for all countries,” Biden said. Biden said that the deals closed are proof of the commitment of all the governments, companies and peoples represented at this Washington summit. “Most importantly, we have only begun. There is much more we can do together and will do together,” Biden remarked.
