Rabat – The Moroccan American Network will bring together small business owners from the US, Africa, and around the world to share ideas and help small businesses maximize their potential at its third annual CEO Summit, “Shaping the Future of Africa: Challenges and Prospects,” on May 10, 2018, in Washington D.C.
“We will be engaging in dialogue and exchange of ideas for macro-opportunities, such as investments, as well as micro-opportunities, in areas such as infrastructure and health, and creating an environment where business leaders can meet other business leaders,” said Mohamed El Hajjam, CEO of AV Actions Inc. and President of the Moroccan American Network.
The upcoming summit will have US Congressman Don S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA) and the Honorable Robert White, Councilman-at-Large for the D.C. government, as special guest speakers, along with His Excellency Carlos Dos Santos, Ambassador to the US from the Republic of Mozambique, as Guest of Honor.
Creating an attractive business environment that encourages investment is a key factor for African countries hoping to succeed in attracting capital. Every year the World Bank publishes a global “Doing Business” ranking of countries’ business environments, rating them on how easy it is to start a company, raise finance, connected power grid and other key indicators for entrepreneurs.
The World Bank publishes a parallel ranking of the countries that have pushed through the most business-friendly reforms. Of the top-10, five African countries–Kenya, Mauritania, Senegal, Benin, and Uganda, made the list.
Over the past decade significant advances have been made in the establishment of various Free Trade Agreements (FTA). For example, the US Census Bureau reports that Morocco’s FTA with the United States has cumulatively increased by 337 percent since the FTA came into effect on January 1, 2006, totaling USD 2.1 billion in 2017 alone. Conversely, imports from Morocco totaled USD 1.2 billion, a cumulative increase of 642 percent since the FTA came into effect
Trade agreements facilitate improvements of commercial opportunities and act as a springboard for small business growth. In its mandate to act as a driver for the promotion of entrepreneurialism, the Moroccan American Network serves as a platform to educate the American public, US media, and US government officials about business and investment opportunities through dialogue, forums, and events. Beyond education, the network connects the American, African-American, and African small business and media communities to facilitate the mutual growth and collaboration.
