Eva M. Clayton: “In this era of global economies, nations are becoming more interconnected and interdependent on one another. It is…”

“In this era of global economies, nations are becoming more interconnected and interdependent on one another. It is critical, therefore, that the economies of the developing nations are not left behind. It is critical that these nations have stable and efficient economies. It is vitally important, therefore, that we assist in integrating Africa into the global economy. Boosting economic development and self-sufficiency for Africa are keys to achieving this end. It is for these reasons and others that I was pleased to vote for the African Trade Development Act of 2000. Generally we only hear about Africa when issues of hunger, welfare, and natural disaster emerge. It is true that hunger estimates in Africa range in upward of 215 million chronically undernourished persons. Yes, we need to be concerned and provide as much assistance as possible. However, there is an old cliche that says, 'Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat forever.' At no other time is this cliche more appropriate for African countries. As a Nation we have the resources, the capacity, and the capability to teach the tools needed to ensure that their economies grow in strength and prosperity. One of the tools we can teach involve agribusiness. Agriculture is a primary sector in the economy for many African nations. It is here that we can provide the tools necessary to technologically upgrade the agriculture methods and processes.”