There may be conflicts, poverty and disease in Africa, but the president of the United States says the direction of the continent is unmistakable. President Barack Obama told business leaders this week that “Africa is on the move.” He spoke at a meeting of the U.S.-Africa Business Forum in New York City. Obama said the African continent is “home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world and … powered by the youngest population anywhere on the planet.” “[Africa has] a middle class projected to grow to more than a billion customers,” he added. Obama told the meeting that everywhere he travels in Africa, “from Senegal to South Africa, Africans insist they do not just want aid, they want trade. They want partners, not patrons.” To help American businesses and investment, the U.S. government has become more active in Africa. Since 2008, the Department of Commerce has opened offices in Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania. The department also has an expanded presence in Ghana and re-established a presence at the African Development Bank. Two well-known Americans led the U.S.-Africa Business Forum meeting: Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The event was designed to help investors and business people from Africa and North America get acquainted with each other. As Obama explained: “All of you should be wanting to make money and create great products and great services, and be profitable, and do right by your investors. But the good news is, in Africa right now, if you are doing well, you can also be doing a lot of good.” One of the young people he spoke about is Frances Udukwu from Nigeria. She is currently serving as Miss Africa USA. Frances Udukwu is only 26 years old, but she recently launched a non-profit organization, called the Lead Girl Foundation. Its goal is to help girls and young women make a life for themselves through business and occupational training. She said, “My personal favorite [thing] is being able to touch the lives of many young girls and women across not only Africa, but in the (United) States as well.” Udukwu lives in Washington, D.C., but travels to Nigeria often. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia and studied public health. She plans to go to law school. I’m Marsha James. Cindy Saine reported this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story forum – n. a meeting at which a subject can be discussed customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business patron – n. a person who gives money and support to an artist or organization acquainted – adj. having met : knowing each other in a personal or social way
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2cXWKlk
via IFTTT
الاشتراك في:
تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)
المشاركات الشائعة
-
As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
-
Even in the world of medicine, what is old is new again. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water. Ancient Roma...
-
00:00:02 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it. 00:00:08 ...
-
The first-ever direct China-to-Britain freight train arrived in London last week. It was the latest evidence of China’s efforts to redevel...
-
North Korea has increased efforts in recent years to prevent outside information from entering the country. But international activists say ...
-
from Voice of America https://ift.tt/2JX5szY via IFTTT
-
The government of Zimbabwe is denying a report that President Robert Mugabe has suffered a heart attack. Presidential spokesman George Chara...
-
South Korea says a high-ranking North Korean military officer defected to South Korea last year. South Korea’s defense and unification minis...
-
Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed l...
-
Welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. On this program we explore the origin and history of American expressions and...
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق