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On the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) hosted the U.S.-South Africa Trade and Investment Executive Dialogue with the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. The dialogue built on partnership efforts articulated in the organizations’ Memorandum of Understanding, included the launch of an annual U.S. Chamber-BUSA South Africa-U.S. Trade and Investment Forum and explored how the new Trade and Investment Forum can have the most actionable impact on growing U.S.-South Africa commercial ties.

President Ramaphosa said, “Over 600 U.S. businesses are operating in South Africa, the most industrialized and diversified economy in Africa. I am glad that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce convened today’s productive discussions on the U.S.-South Africa economic relationship. I invite more U.S. companies to invest and build manufacturing and other productive facilities in South Africa and share in the opportunities in our economy and the fast-growing African market. I wish the partnership between the U.S. Chamber and Business Unity South Africa well, as it adds to the private sector’s existing efforts to strengthen our countries’ economic bonds, and to expand South Africa's role as an economic hub in Africa.”

BUSA CEO Cas Coovadia said, “The opportunity is ripe for U.S. and international investors to be part of South Africa’s growth efforts in a partnership between business and government, to put the country onto a sustainable growth path and optimize its amazing potential—exactly the aim of today’s dialogue. The MOU between Business Unity South Africa and the U.S. Chamber—and now our launch of the South Africa-U.S. Trade and Investment Forum—demonstrates how partnership is so key to prioritizing and promoting our countries’ shared growth and prosperity. As BUSA and the U.S. Chamber continue stimulating U.S.-South Africa trade and investment, BUSA stands ready as a trusted partner for investors entering the South African market.”

USAfBC President Scott Eisner said, “At the 2019 South Africa investment conference, I pledged the U.S. Chamber would strive towards doubling U.S. commercial and foreign direct investment in South Africa by 2025—an ambitious target that the U.S. Chamber publicly recommitted itself to last year. Today’s dialogue, themed around ‘An Agenda for Accelerating Economic Growth,’ is organized in that collaborative spirit, and we were honored to hear President Ramaphosa’s vision for the U.S.-South Africa commercial partnership, and of his support for the U.S. Chamber and BUSA’s intent to launch a yearly South Africa-U.S. Trade and Investment Forum. We look forward to further elevating our partnership in-person in South Africa this November, at the next annual United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum) meeting.”

Full Statement Attached

Issued by BUSA CEO, Cas Coovadia