Representatives from several major U.S. companies have begun a visit to explore investment and commercial opportunities in Namibia. Ms. Akunna Cook, a visiting senior State Department Official responsible for the United States’ economic diplomacy for all of Africa, will lead the delegation that includes officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Power Africa, and the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa.
The business delegation includes major American firms in the industries of construction and engineering, energies, and health. Ms. Cook and the business delegation will meet with Namibian government leadership and potential Namibian business partners. Together, they will explore current and future opportunities for projects ranging from infrastructure improvements, to green hydrogen, to health systems advancements.
The U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Jessica Long said, “American companies bring with them the world’s best skills and highest quality products and services. This business delegation offers American expertise in infrastructure development, renewable energy development like solar and green hydrogen, and healthcare management. I see tremendous opportunities in Namibia for these industries, which can drive Namibia’s current and future economic growth. American companies also believe in Corporate Social Responsibility and contribute broadly in the countries in which they work, for example by employing locally and training Namibians in valuable skills.”
Chargé d’Affaires Jessica Long and Ms. Cook will also host a networking event for Namibian entrepreneurs to connect them to resources to scale up their businesses. One of those resources is the USAID TradeHub, which helps entrepreneurs launch exports to South Africa and the United States.
Ms. Akunna Cook is a Deputy Assistant Secretary in State Department’s Africa Bureau. She is the U.S. Administration’s lead on foreign policy for the Southern Africa region and on economic policy for all of Africa. Namibia is the last stop on her Prosper Africa economic diplomacy visit to the region, which includes Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Namibia.
This is the first in a series of economic diplomacy visits the State Department will undertake to advance U.S. trade and investment with Africa as part of the whole-of-government Prosper Africa initiative.