Obama hails US-Africa ties as summit closes

Global Business

Political leaders and business executives from more than 40 African countries are in Washington for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

Several multi-billion dollar deals have been announced over the last three days. Final sessions focused on on three areas: investment, security and governance.
A lot of the key discussions were held away from the cameras. Attendees talked about the best away to attract new business to Africa.

And several leaders wanted to make clear that their nations are not only rich in natural resources, but in human capital too.

African leaders are clearly banking on its young people to help propel their economies forward. The continent’s population will double to two billion people by 2050. Two-thirds of them will be younger than 35 years old.

For more on Africa’s path forward, CCTV America spoke to David Shinn, who has served as the ambassador to both Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. He is currently an adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of International Affairs.

Standard Chartered Bank is one lender playing a major role in U.S. shift from aid to investment in Africa. It recently announced that it’s more than doubling investment in Africa from $2 to $5 billion. CCTV America spoke to Standard Chartered Bank’s Africa regional CEO, Diana Layfield.