Chris Coons: “I have never been more optimistic about Africa and about the potential for a U.S. partnership with Africa than I am…”

“I have never been more optimistic about Africa and about the potential for a U.S. partnership with Africa than I am today. Every year I host a conference in my home State of Delaware called ``Opportunity: Africa'' that brings together Delawareans and Africans, leaders from across our country and from the continent interested in building and strengthening new ties. Every year it has grown in participation, in the scope of issues we have looked at, and in the number of Delaware businesses interested in the opportunities in this continent of 54 countries. At this past March's conference, President Clinton delivered the keynote. The hunger to build new relationships between business, government, the faith community, and those in the African diaspora is undeniable. What is required of us is to think anew and dedicate ourselves to building partnerships of mutuality and that last. In this Chamber that will mean passing a reauthorized African Growth and Opportunity Act that does more to encourage and facilitate real two-way trade than the current law and to take up and pass the bipartisan Power Africa law that will strengthen investment in infrastructure and in electricity across the continent. Next week it means coming together with Africa's government and business leaders to forge new relationships built on mutual respect and the opportunities we share.…”