MAPUTO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said on Wednesday in Maputo that the U.S.-Africa Business Summit is an excellent opportunity to attract investment to the country.
Nyusi spoke at the opening of the 12th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, which brought together heads of state of 10 countries in the region, national and foreign investors, U.S. government representatives and entrepreneurs.
"The continent has a financing gap for infrastructure, estimated at between 68 billion and 108 billion U.S. dollars," he said, adding that business opportunities the African continent offers are not properly exploited due to lack of funding.
According to the head of state, resource mobilization is vital to accelerate the continent's regional economic integration process and to find better ways of negotiating opportunities in order to preserve the continent's interests.
"We extol the crucial role that the Corporate Council On Africa played in promoting investment and business opportunity on the continent, contributing to its better integration into the world economy," said Nyusi.
The president also said that the economic potential that Mozambique has will attract foreign direct investment capable of contributing to new jobs and wealth generation.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelly, the highest ranking representative of U.S. government for the summit, advertised U.S. new policy initiative for Africa in her speech.
"The goal of Prosper Africa is quite simple: We seek substantial increase of investment and trade between U.S. and Africa, and it will accomplish this goal by focusing on coordinating minds of Africa," said Kelly.
According to the U.S. government official, Prosper Africa will help to facilitate transactions and coordinate the resources of the U.S. agencies to help U.S. companies better identify commercial opportunities in Africa.
It is the first time for Mozambique to host the summit, which takes place on the theme "Promoting a resilient and sustainable partnership between the U.S. and Africa," from Wednesday to Friday.
