With the countdown to the U.S.-Africa Business Summit now underway, the U.S. Embassy and the Corporate Council on Africa co-hosted a reception at Mont Choisy Golf Club House on 6 October, bringing together U.S. and Mauritian business leaders, government officials, and key partners for exclusive updates on the Summit.
Preparations are now underway for the Summit, to be held for the first time in Mauritius, from 6-9 December at the Swami Vivekananda International Conference Center (SVICC), with the Government of Mauritius and the CCA as the co-hosts.
The event is set to convene business leaders, investors and policymakers from across Africa and the United States, to move partnerships and opportunities forward.
The Summit is expected to attract Heads of State and Government from across Africa, with Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, and H.E. Duma Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, having already confirmed their presence.
The event will be held at a time of renewed momentum for U.S.-Africa relations, with the recent extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until 31 December 2028.
Mauritius as a Digital Bridge for Growth
Opening the series of addresses, Craig Halbmaier, U.S. Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy, underlined that in just over two months, Mauritius would host the 18th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, bringing together heads of state, ministers, senior U.S. government officials and executives from leading American and African companies.
Recalling that partners last met in May to discuss why Mauritius was the right host, he said he wished to put a spotlight on the progress made since then. He first noted that on 2 September, President Trump had signed a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). He observed that “few countries have used AGOA better than Mauritius”, explaining that it had helped build a world-class textile industry that buys premium American cotton and sells high-end clothing back to the United States, which he described as “a partnership that creates jobs in both our countries”.
Halbmaier then welcomed Mauritius’ steps towards becoming one of the first African partners to reach an agreement on reciprocal trade with the United States. He also pointed to the agreement signed in July between Mauritius and Amazon Web Services to strengthen AI and cloud computing, including training for over 50,000 Mauritians.
More recently, he added, His Excellency the Prime Minister had announced that Mauritius would connect to Google’s America-India Connect subsea cable, an investment which, in his view, helps Mauritius to act as a digital bridge between Africa, Asia and the United States. He further noted that more American companies were choosing Mauritius, citing the launch of Uber this year, and indicated that the Embassy was working with several other American companies seeking to introduce their services in the country. He expressed the hope that some exciting deals would be announced at the Summit.
Stressing that each of these investments had the potential to create jobs, build skills and grow prosperity, he insisted that “it is ultimately trade, not aid, that drives lasting prosperity”. He explained that the Summit would be the place where trade deals across the continent are taken across the finish line, but also a starting line for future deals, as executives and officials come together to make more deals, drive economic growth and advance innovation, “all with Mauritius at the center”.
In conclusion, Halbmaier described the Summit as “a historic opportunity for Mauritius to showcase its strengths, its people, and its potential” to business leaders and decision makers across the United States and Africa.
Connecting U.S. and African Commercial Partnerships
Taking the floor, Ms Florie Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), recalled that over the last 33 years, more than three decades, the CCA’s mission has been to connect, catalyze and amplify U.S.-Africa business partnerships. She explained that, throughout that period, the organisation had brought together U.S. and African government leaders, businesses and investors to open doors and move commercial opportunities forward, with its annual Summit being the place where that mission comes to life.
As an illustration, she cited the 2025 Summit in Angola, where leaders from across Africa and the United States came together and announced more than $4.2 billion in commercial agreements. She stated that the Summit in Mauritius in December would offer the chance to build on that momentum.
Addressing the Mauritian audience directly, Ms Liser asserted that “you have a compelling story to tell”. She highlighted the country’s strengths in financial services, digital innovation, tourism, logistics, sustainability, real estate and the blue economy, among other areas, which would be on full display and would allow participants to see first-hand why Mauritius is so well placed to serve as a gateway for business and investment between Africa, the United States and beyond.
Turning to the companies present, she stressed that it was now up to the business community to tell that story. “To the companies here tonight, this is your opportunity to tell that story. You know your sectors and where the right partnerships can make a real difference,” she said. She pointed out that “this December, you can share that vision directly with government leaders, executives, investors and financial institutions from across Africa and the United States, right here on Mauritian soil.”
As preparations for the Summit move forward, Ms Liser encouraged them to start thinking about the connections they wished to make, the opportunities they wanted to advance, and how the Summit could best support them, their companies and their institutions.
Integrating SMEs and Cooperatives into the Conversation
Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Hon. Aadil Ameer Meea, underlined that in barely two months, Mauritius will host the single biggest business event in the history of our country. He recalled that from 6 to 9 December, the 18th U.S.-Africa Business Summit would come to Mauritius for the very first time, with more than 3,000 participants expected, including Heads of State and Government, ministers, chief executives of American and African companies, investors and leaders of development finance institutions.
He pointed out that never before had so many decision makers, with so much capital and so many projects, gathered on the island at the same time. This, he said, was an honour, but also a responsibility and “an opportunity we may not see again for a generation”.
Turning to the private sector, Minister Ameer Meea observed that Government was building the platform, the CCA was bringing the network and American partners were opening the doors, but that it was Mauritian businesses that would benefit the most and which therefore had to play the biggest part. His message to local companies was simple: “Do not come to this Summit with brochures and business cards. Come with projects.” He explained that those seeking investment should define the project and the amount, those needing technology should name it, and those wanting a partner should describe that partner.
He also urged businesses to bring their SMEs along, noting that when an American investor sees a strong local supplier base, the investment becomes less risky and more attractive. In his view, SMEs and cooperatives “must be part of this conversation, not spectators to it”.
On the state of preparations, the Minister indicated that work was well under way. He noted that the CCA team was currently in Mauritius on a technical visit and that, earlier that afternoon, a walkthrough of the Summit venue at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre had taken place. He explained that the country was moving from planning into delivery, with every task assigned an owner and a deadline. However, he made it clear that “a well organised Summit is the minimum”, adding that what matters is what Mauritius takes out of it.
On trade relations, the Minister warmly welcomed the extension of AGOA to 31 December 2028, signed into law last month. He recalled that for a quarter of a century, AGOA had supported jobs, exports and industrial development in Mauritius, and he thanked friends in the United States Congress and the Administration who made the extension possible.
However, he emphasised that Mauritius was “looking beyond AGOA”. “Preferences, however valuable, are renewed a few years at a time, and investors do not plan in two-year cycles,” he argued. “Our ambition is therefore to move from preference to partnership: a relationship built on reciprocity, where both sides invest, both sides trade and both sides gain.” It was for this reason, he explained, that Government had formally indicated its interest in a bilateral trade agreement with the United States and that its engagement with the Office of the United States Trade Representative was continuing.
Advancing New Frontiers in Bilateral Prosperity
Speaking as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Hon. Dhananjay Ramful stated that Mauritius was deeply honoured to host the Summit under the theme “Advancing New Frontiers in U.S.-Africa Prosperity”. He noted that the event came at an important time for African-U.S. relations, as the relationship was evolving beyond traditional development cooperation towards a broader partnership based on trade, investment, technology and artificial intelligence.
Underlining the central role of the business community, he stated: “The Summit belongs not only to government. It is fundamentally about business and the opportunities that can be created through a stronger private sector engagement.” He therefore encouraged companies, investors, financial institutions and business organisations from Mauritius, Africa and the United States to seize the opportunity to participate actively, build partnerships and, where possible, bring their support to the Summit.
He also recalled that during his recent visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Mauritius had signed a new cooperation agreement with the United States covering artificial intelligence, infrastructure and maritime security. He pointed out that the country was becoming increasingly involved with the U.S. in maritime security in the region, as well as in innovation and sustainable growth.
Referring to the remarks of his colleague, the Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Minister Ramful highlighted the significant opportunities offered by Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which unites the continent into a single market of 1.4 billion consumers with a combined GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion. He observed that the United States, for its part, provides the technology, the know-how and the capital needed to access this market, and that the common objective should be to translate this potential into concrete partnerships and investment.
In conclusion, the Minister declared: “This is an opportunity for businesses to showcase their capabilities, identify new markets, establish partnerships and explore investment opportunities.” For Mauritius, he added, hosting the event would bring significant international visibility but, more importantly, a platform for businesses from across Africa and the U.S. to connect and create new opportunities. While Government would facilitate and provide the necessary support, he stressed: “The private sector must seize the opportunity and help transform the Summit into tangible economic outputs.”
Further information on how to register for the Summit is available at: www.usafricabizsummit.com
