Global Leadership & Investment: African and American Investment Leaders of The Fourth Industrial Revolution
“We hope to extend our economic partnerships with countries who are committed to self-reliance and to fostering opportunities for job creation in both Africa and the United States,” U.S. president, Donald Trump, said last week after a working luncheon in New York with the leaders of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Trump led a conversation with the African leaders, discussing how the United States and Africa can work toward prosperity and peace.
“Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They’re spending a lot of money. But it does — it has a tremendous business potential and representing huge amounts of different markets. And for American firms it’s really become a place that they have to go — that they want to go,” Trump said a day before Thomson Reuters and the United States Chamber of Commerce Africa Business Center hosted A Discussion on the Investment Landscape in Africa.
“Increasing American trade and investment across diverse industries — including agriculture, energy, transportation, healthcare, travel, and tourism — will further transform lives throughout the continent. Secretary Tillerson and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation are already considering an investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Côte d’Ivoire, which has made impressive economic reforms. Really, you’ve done a tremendous job,” Trump continued.
“We also hope that African firms — like the company [South African based] Sasol — consider making investments in the United States. Sasol, as an example, is building a $9 billion petrochemical plant in Louisiana, which will bring new jobs to the state and, really, hardworking Americans will be manning those jobs.”
Amazing insights gained on investment and 4th industrial revolution #AfricasValue @USChamberAfrica https://t.co/ANVz5xW3z5 pic.twitter.com/qXutGd4TRT
— ThomsonReutersAfrica (@TR_AFRICA) September 21, 2017
Scott Eisner, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce Africa Business Center, is a key figure in facilitating President Trump’s Africa agenda, described as a “pragmatic strategy to focus on security, infrastructure, economic, and other common interests.”
A day after hosting A Discussion on the Investment Landscape in Africa with Thomson Reuters, while attending the Congressional Black Caucus 47th Annual Legislative Conference, Eisner published It Makes Good Business Sense for President Trump to Focus on Africa on Above the Fold.
Offering a window on policy with analysis, commentary and real stories about the intersection of government and business, Eisner referenced the United Nations, which states by 2050 Africa will add 1.3 billion people to its current population.
“Nigeria alone is expected to become the third most populous country on earth expanding to over 300 million people. With 3.3% average real GDP growth from 2010-2015, Africa is one of the most rapidly growing economic growth regions in the world. Along with this growth, a dynamic youth population and rapid urbanization, a new middle class and consumer base that is hungry for American-made goods and services has emerged,” Eisner wrote.
“To enable the U.S. to up its game in Africa,” Eisner wrote “we must do a few things first as outlined in a paper sent by the U.S. Africa Business Center to the Trump administration earlier this year. These are top line issues that will spur manufacturing in the U.S., create new partners across Africa, and help American firms of all sizes compete with the likes of Brazil, Turkey, and China across Africa: Enhance U.S.-Africa bilateral and regional engagements; Improve the ease of doing business for U.S. companies; Focus on infrastructure; Boost Africa’s digital transformation; Add value to Africa’s agricultural sector; and Advance trade facilitation and customs modernization.”
Scott Eisner,@USChamberAfrica president, speaks at @CBCFInc Africa Braintrust panel hosted by Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) on prosperity in Africa pic.twitter.com/IxYMZKEkJG
— U.S. Chamber Africa (@USChamberAfrica) September 22, 2017
Scott Eisner | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Africa Business Center, President | U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Sr. Vice President | Wilson Center Africa Program, Advisory Council Member
A graduate of Pepperdine University, Scott Eisner is president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and vice president of the Chamber. Representing the Chamber’s interests in Africa through its U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC), Eisner leads the business community’s top advocacy group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Africa trade relations.
Heading the Chamber’s U.S.-South Africa Business and U.S.-Cote d’Ivoire Business Councils, Eisner directs the strategic activities of the USAfBC as it engages with senior-level U.S. government officials, international business leaders, and African governments.
For more than a decade Eisner has contributed to the Chamber’s mission, serving in a myriad of positions including director of programs for the Chamber’s Foundation, deputy chief of staff, and head of operations for the Chamber’s International Affairs Division holding the position of vice president, African Affairs.
Prior to serving the Chamber of Commerce, Eisner worked on Senator John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign, and his reelection to the Senate in 2004, having spent time in international politics working with the International Republican Institute in Malawi.
A member of the Africa Leadership Foundation and Coalition for Development Reform boards, Eisner formerly promoted and worked as director of business development with the world famous Kronk Boxing Gym.
LinkedIn Profile
Our president, Scott Eisner, featured on @USChamber policy blog, Above the Fold. #trade #investinAfrica #USAfricahttps://t.co/Bk8dCGQsDD
— U.S. Chamber Africa (@USChamberAfrica) September 25, 2017