Image:  Corporate Council on Africa

The 16th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, was held from May 6-9, 2024, in Dallas, Texas, under the theme
‘U.S.-Africa Business: Partnering for Sustainable Success’. Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa,
in conjunction with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent U.S. Government
agency that partners with developing countries to reduce poverty through economic growth, the
Summit convened several African heads of state, business leaders, investors, government officials,
and other stakeholders.

The U.S and African nations have a long-standing, intricate relationship shaped by a wide range of
political, historical, social and economic factors. But as international problems unfold throughout the
world, so has the engagement. This relationship has had several difficulties recently as U.S and Chinese
competition has grown in a number of sectors, including ties with Africa. The largest economy on the
continent, South Africa did not attend the Summit, after suing Israel in the International Court of
Justice for genocide related to the Israeli- Palestine conflict. This action further soured ties with the
U.S. There has also been a growing focus on China’s role in assisting with Africa with healthcare related
aid through programmes such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Health Silk Road.

One of the topics of discussion at the Summit was health care financing, which is a major challenge in
many African countries due to limited resources to fund comprehensive health systems, and a growing
burden of disease. Health care financing in Africa is a complex issue that requires innovative solutions
to ensure that all individuals have access to quality healthcare services. The U.S-Africa relationship,
particularly through platforms like the US-Africa Business Summit thus presents a major opportunity
to support healthcare in Africa by strengthening collaborations and financing for healthcare, which
have substantial impact on the general well-being and development of the continent. The U.S has a
lengthy history of offering development assistance and foreign aid to Africa, even though this money
has often been fragmented and inadequately synchronized with local objectives. The U.S through
initiatives such as President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the MCC have contributed
billions of dollars to health and infrastructure in more than twenty-four countries across the continent.

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. government policy that allows tariff-free
imports from qualified nationsis set to expire in September 2025. African businesses have long pushed
for an early AGOA renewal. This presents a crucial opportunity for the U.S and African nations to
strengthen their partnership, improve healthcare financing, and access to quality healthcare services
across the African continent.

As the Summit brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to explore
innovative solutions and opportunities for business, it served as a platform for mobilising resources
and investments in healthcare infrastructure and innovation to advance healthcare systems across the
continent. Improving US-Africa relations can unlock new pathways to address the many health
challenges on the continent, and partnerships between the public and private sectors are critical to
strengthening health systems in Africa.

It is hoped that African governments leveraged the Summit, and the private sector participation to
gain access to knowledge, technology, and funds aimed at improving health-care delivery,
infrastructure, and resource optimisation. African countries are able to increase domestic and
international funding for healthcare by establishing more strategic and collaborative partnerships,
strengthening health system infrastructure and human resources, and expanding access to vital
medications and technology. Ultimately, the success of the networks and potential partnerships
depends on all stakeholders’ commitment and participation in building the future of healthcare in
Africa.

By Kabaso Kabwe