Political Quotes

“Africa is a continent on the move and it is time we recognized that fact. We have neglected the people of Africa and ceded many export opportunities to their former European colonial powers. This legislation will for the first time focus the attention of the U.S. Government on a comprehensive trade strategy towards Africa. This legislation reinforces the positive developments taking place in that continent. Since 1990, more than 25 African countries have held democratic elections and more than 30 countries have embarked on free-market economic reforms. Let me give my colleagues a taste of what can happen. Last year I held a hearing before the Subcommittee on Small Business Exports, which I chair, on the subject of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC. A wonderful lady born in Africa and now residing in Massachusetts, Monique Maddy, testified how her small telecommunications firm was able to contribute both to economic development in Africa and increased U.S. exports to Africa. She won a deal, thanks to a political risk insurance package from OPIC, to build wireless public telephones which operate on debit cards instead of coins for Tanzania. This contract resulted in the export of $4.5 million worth of goods and services from 8 supplier companies in 7 States: Texas, New Jersey, Washington, Georgia, Missouri, and North Carolina. In addition, 60 jobs were created in Tanzania.”