By JOWIT SALUSEKI-
ZAMBIA like other African nations has continued to enjoy cordial relations with the United States (US).
Just like in other African countries, the US goals in Zambia are anchored on bilateral relations.
The relations also include reducing widespread poverty and building and sustaining a democratic, well-governed society that contributes positively to regional stability.
The US established diplomatic relations with Zambia in 1964, following the latter’s independence from the United Kingdom (UK).
The Zambian Government is pursuing a national development plan to reduce the economy’s reliance on the copper industry.
The country’s primary challenges under the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) are to restore debt sustainability, promote broad-based, inclusive economic growth; maintain adherence to democratic and constitutional principles; create employment; and develop its human capital.
In Zambia, the US works closely with the Government to defeat the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is widespread but stabilizing.
The US assistance to Zambia is robust, totaling close to $500 million annually.
Its assistance fights HIV/AIDS; expands and improves the quality of health and education opportunities; strengthens democratic and accountable governance; provides clean water and improves sanitation; helps create trade and business development opportunities.
Under bilateral economic relations, Zambia is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
This means that the US is able to export to Zambia vehicles, machinery, rubber, and electrical machinery while the former imports from Zambia copper, cobalt, precious stones (emeralds), and food stuffs (coffee, tea, honey, and spices).
The US has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), of which Zambia is a member.
Worth noting is that , Zambia and the US belong to a number of the same international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank(WB), African Development Bank(AfDB), and the World Trade Organisation(WTO).
Regionally, Zambia is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) as well as COMESA.
The new administration under President Hakainde Hichilema has further strengthened the US-Zambia relations since coming into office about 15 months ago.
It is against this background that Zambia is among 50 other countries that are expected in Washington for the US-Africa Leaders Summit.
The leaders are expected to participate in a series of pitch sessions focused on investment opportunities and global issues.
The Summit will be held from December 13-15.
Like any other country , Zambia too is expected to continue to benefit from the fruits of the summit.
President Joe Biden recently announced that US will bring together 50 leaders from across the African continent for a major summit in December in Washington to discuss pressing challenges from food security to climate change.
“The summit will demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to Africa, and will underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities,” Mr Biden said in a statement.
The US-Africa Leaders Summit, scheduled for December 13-15, was announced simultaneously in virtual remarks by US Vice President Kamala Harris to the US-Africa Business Summit in Marrakech hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the kingdom of Morocco and attended by a US delegation.
Senior administration officials, discussing the US-Africa Summit said about 50 African leaders are expected to join Mr Biden for the December 13-15 series of meetings.
It will come at the end of a year when Mr Biden has engaged other regions of the world with trips to visit US allies in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Mr Biden has yet to visit Africa since becoming president, and the summit will be his most comprehensive look at the complexities of the continent.
A backbeat of Mr Biden’s diplomatic efforts thus far has been to promote Western democracies as a counterweight to China, but officials believes the US-Africa summit was not all about Beijing.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced that it is providing nearly $1.3 billion in aid to the Horn of Africa nations of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia to help stave off mass starvation and deaths in the drought-stricken region.
Mr Biden said the summit will work toward new economic engagement, promote democracy and human rights, advance peace and security, and address challenges such as food security and climate change as well as the pandemic.
The president believes that US collaboration with leaders from African governments, civil society, the private sector and the African diaspora will help tackle some of the challenges, the official said.
On July 20, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that she and President Biden are looking forward to welcoming African leaders to Washington, DC from December 13-15, 2022 for the United States-Africa Leaders Summit.
“Our Administration’s goal, is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development across the continent, to expand capital flows, and to promote the vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that is so prevalent across Africa,” she shared.
Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), led the delegation where she reinforced the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government commitment to increasing two-way trade and mobilizing investment in Africa’s fast-growing markets.
Travis Adkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of the US African Development Foundation (USADF), highlighted the central role of African small and medium-sized enterprises in fueling the continent’s economic growth and recovery.
He reinforced USADF’s core commitments to providing direct investments and technical assistance to African-owned and African-led enterprises and social entrepreneurs.
Mr Adkins also engaged with African government officials to discuss the potential for partnerships, with a focus on USADF’s priority programming areas of food security, youth employment, women’s economic empowerment, and renewable energy.
Throughout the event, a powerful group of US investors forged new connections with African public and private sector leaders and participated in a series of pitch sessions focused on investment opportunities in resilient infrastructure.
It is in this regard that Zambia too , is expected to attend the US-Africa Summit which will run from December 13 -15 in Washington in order to continue to enjoy bilateral cooperation which will be for the betterment of the citizenry.