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![African statesmen visit BU for economic development summit The University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) hosted six former African heads of state at BU on April 22 and 23 to discuss with U.S. policy makers and business leaders ways to attract business and increase capital flow to the continent. Among their recommendations: that the U.S. government provide tax incentives to companies that invest in Africa, that it allow African businesses increased access to American markets, and that it provide debt relief to African countries. “It is time to take the albatross of neglect from around Africa’s neck and replace it with a sign that says, ‘Africa is open for business,’” said Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia, at the April 23 press conference that concluded the two-day summit. Kaunda is the current APARC Balfour President-in-Residence at BU. There is a consensus that the war in Iraq has made the need for development assistance in Africa more urgent, as nations there rely heavily on foreign aid and could be hit hard if a global recession occurs. “We understand the need to rebuild Afghanistan,” Kaunda said, speaking for his fellow statesmen, all recognized democratic and economic reformers. “We understand the need to rebuild Iraq. We understand the need [to combat] terrorism. . . . But the need to deal with terrorism should not become another reason for Africa’s neglect, even more so because there is a connection between America’s and other countries’ national security and the economic security of developing nations.” Pictured at the press conference are (from left) Charles Stith, APARC director and former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania; Kaunda; Nicéphore Soglo, the former president of Benin; Jerry Rawlings, the former president of Ghana; Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the former president of Tanzania; Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the former president of Mauritius; and Ketumile Masire, the former president of Botswana. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky](photos/african.jpg)
African statesmen visit BU for economic development summit
The University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC)
hosted six former African heads of state at BU on April 22 and 23 to discuss
with U.S. policy makers and business leaders ways to attract business and increase
capital flow to the continent. Among their recommendations: that the U.S. government
provide tax incentives to companies that invest in Africa, that it allow African
businesses increased access to American markets, and that it provide debt relief
to African countries. “It is time to take the albatross of neglect from
around Africa’s neck and replace it with a sign that says, ‘Africa
is open for business,’” said Kenneth Kaunda, the former president
of Zambia, at the April 23 press conference that concluded the two-day summit.
Kaunda is the current APARC Balfour President-in-Residence at BU. There is a
consensus that the war in Iraq has made the need for development assistance in
Africa more urgent, as nations there rely heavily on foreign aid and could be
hit hard if a global recession occurs. “We understand the need to rebuild
Afghanistan,” Kaunda said, speaking for his fellow statesmen, all recognized
democratic and economic reformers. “We understand the need to rebuild Iraq.
We understand the need [to combat] terrorism. . . . But the need to deal with
terrorism should not become another reason for Africa’s neglect, even more
so because there is a connection between America’s and other countries’ national
security and the economic security of developing nations.” Pictured at
the press conference are (from left) Charles Stith, APARC director and former
U.S. ambassador to Tanzania; Kaunda; Nicéphore Soglo, the former president
of Benin; Jerry Rawlings, the former president of Ghana; Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the
former president of Tanzania; Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the former president of
Mauritius; and Ketumile Masire, the former president of Botswana. Photo by Kalman
Zabarsky
25
April 2003
Boston University
Office of University Relations