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Transcript/ScriptUS-AFRICA-BUSINESS
HEADLINE: Biden Touts Billions in US-Africa Deals at Summit of 50 African Delegations
TEASER: ‘The United States is all in on Africa’s future,’ Biden says at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington
PUBLISHED: 12/14/2022 at 9:25 pm
BYLINE: Anita Powell
CONTRIBUTOR: Peter Clottey
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Mia Bush, DJones
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP wire; some original (as noted)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[President Joe Biden enumerated billions of dollars' worth of U.S. investments in Africa, both public and private, in remarks to African leaders and the continent’s business community at a three-day summit. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. ]]
((Establish Biden MRT please pull))
((NARRATOR))
President Joe Biden says he’s serious about Africa’s success — and has a serious plan to get the continent on better footing.
((SOT, English, MRT please pull from 6:52))
((President Joe Biden))
“Africa’s economic transition depends on good government, healthy populations, and reliable and affordable energy. These things business seeks out when they’re looking to invest. They attract new opportunities, and they launch new partnerships. And the United States is committed to supporting every aspect — every aspect of Africa’s inclusive growth and creating the best possible environment for sustained commercial engagement between Africa companies and American companies. The United States is all in on Africa’s future.”
((establish the summit AP-4410932))
((NARRATOR))
The second day of the three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit focused on the one thing the U.S. has and that every African country needs: money. U.S. officials announced
they would give African nations $55 billion over the next three years — much of it directed toward health and climate projects.
((Show Biden speaking MRT please pull))
On Tuesday, Biden also announced an agreement between the U.S. and the new African Continental Free Trade Area and a range of other bilateral agreements that he said would “unlock economic growth” in the world’s fastest-growing continent.
And, he said, the U.S. is taking this relationship online, by working with Congress to invest about $350 million in what he called the “Digital Transformation with Africa.”
((SOT, English, MRT please pull))
((President Joe Biden))
“And this will include partnerships between African and American companies to provide cybersecurity services to make sure Africa’s digital environment is reliable and secure.”
((Show UN floor vote from today, AFP-V000_333P3MA))
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told VOA that U.S. assistance won't be affected by African nations’ reluctance to condemn Russia and cut ties over its invasion of Ukraine.
[[Radio: Linda Thomas-Greenfield is U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.]]
((SOT, English, ORIGINAL, from 1:35 in file, vid here: https://app.frame.io/player/56e3aebc-2733-41ad-97c5-a2741a1331a6))
((Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN))
“We're not paying countries to vote for condemning Russia, and we're not threatening countries who decide not to vote. But we are appealing to them. We're appealing to their values. We're appealing to right versus wrong.”
((Establish Clottey and PM from https://app.frame.io/player/1ef7c5d5-111c-42ae-966a-e86a1c676a65))
((NARRATOR))
And the new prime minister of Lesotho — also the richest man in the tiny southern African nation — told VOA’s Peter Clottey that African leaders also want to see a 10-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which confers duty-free status on some African exports.
[[Radio: Sam Matekane is the new prime minister of Lesotho]]
((SOT, English, original, from 25:29 in track, file here: https://app.frame.io/player/1ef7c5d5-111c-42ae-966a-e86a1c676a65))
((Sam Matekane, Lesotho Prime Minister ((English)) ))
“We have just negotiated, this morning, with the senators that we need to extend AGOA by 10 years because it's coming to an end in 2025. So we have already started negotiations in that path. AGOA is very, very, very important to us as a country.”
((end with Biden at speech, or with Biden greeting leaders at the White House (expected later Wednesday), or with Blinken with leaders, AP-4410805; 4410814 and 4410797))
((NARRATOR))
The last summit that brought dozens of African leaders to Washington was eight years ago. But, administration officials say, their commitment to the mother continent is as strong today as it ever was.
((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington D.C.
Embargo DateDecember 15, 2022 00:51 EST
Byline
Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English