Published
July 23, 2025
On July 8 and 10, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center was honored to host four African Heads of State — from Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Senegal, and Mauritania — at the Chamber’s headquarters for business roundtables, and participated in an off-site meeting with the President of Liberia.
Convened during the official visit of these African Heads of State to Washington for a summit at the White House, the Chamber’s Presidential roundtables provided the opportunity for top business executives and U.S. government officials to directly engage in constructive discussions with these leaders on advancing mutually beneficial commercial opportunities.
Reinforcing the ethos of expanding U.S. economic relations with African partners through “Trade Not Aid,” these five meaningful conversations delivered actionable opportunities to advance White House efforts to foster strategic commercial engagement with African leaders and highlighted the role of U.S. business in building sustainable growth on both sides of the Atlantic.
Guinea-Bissau: Pioneering Reforms and Untapped Potential
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló presented Guinea-Bissau as a frontier investment market, rich in natural resources and on the verge of economic transformation. President Embaló explained his government’s ongoing business-friendly reforms, including a modernized investment code, streamlined regulations, and renewed efforts to enhance governance. U.S. companies were urged to seize early-mover advantages in agriculture, tourism, and extractive industries.
Gabon: Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Growth
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema outlined Gabon’s industrialization blueprint, centered around substantial infrastructure and energy projects. The Mayumba deep-water port and the Belinga-Mayumba railway—set to connect the Belinga mining site to the port—were described as strategic anchor projects that will expand regional trade and accelerate mineral exports.
Key sectors recommended for U.S. investment include critical minerals, energy, agriculture, and the digital economy, with discussions highlighting how public-private partnerships are a driving force behind Gabon’s long-term development strategy. Building on the executive roundtable the Chamber hosted in October, President Oligui Nguema highlighted Vaalco Energy’s new investments in the energy sector and touted the successful commercial deal recently inked by Cybastion to accelerate digital transformation.
Liberia: The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development
President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of Liberia detailed his national development plan, or his ambitious “ARREST” Agenda, which seeks to transform Liberia through an emphasis on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. This strategy aims to modernize infrastructure, strengthen governance, and enhance human capital to attract private sector investment.
The dialogue focused on critical mineral exploration, agricultural modernization, and logistics infrastructure, with President Boakai calling for U.S. expertise in conducting geological surveys to unlock the full scale of Liberia’s mineral wealth. The discussions also reinforced Liberia’s commitment to transparency and regulatory reforms, which are positioning it as one of West Africa’s most promising markets.
Senegal: Vision 2050
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye spoke on Senegal’s Vision 2050, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to bold, business-friendly reforms. Key initiatives include modernizing the investment code, streamlining customs procedures, and strengthening regulatory clarity to facilitate greater foreign direct investment.
Discussions explored opportunities in Senegal’s energy, agriculture, critical minerals, and digital sectors, with a focus on youth engagement and workforce development. The Chamber also announced that Senegal will be the focus of a forthcoming Senegal Investment Guide, designed to provide U.S. businesses with practical insights into the country’s economic landscape.
Mauritania: A Strategic Gateway to Regional Markets
President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani described Mauritania as a gateway economy connecting Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, anchored by political stability and an investor-friendly legal framework. Discussions highlighted opportunities for U.S. firms in fisheries, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, and tourism.
President Ghazouani also touted pro-business reforms, including customs and tax incentives and positive treatment of foreign investors, which have strengthened the country’s appeal as a regional trade and energy hub. He invited U.S. companies to join the successful partnership that BP and Kosmos Energy have built with Mauritania and Senegal in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Project. Joined by both a ministerial and business delegation, U.S. companies were able to have direct discussions with technical leaders and potential partners to build business linkages for future commercial partnerships.
Turning Dialogue into Action
By aligning U.S. business interests with the reform agendas of Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Liberia, Senegal, and Mauritania, these discussions set the stage for new U.S. investments and business partnerships across Africa.
Looking forward, deal origination, sovereign risk mitigation, and blended finance structuring will be critical to translating these dialogues into bankable projects. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce remains committed to deepening U.S.-Africa ties and driving sustainable, inclusive growth, advancing shared prosperity and mutual benefit for the U.S. and Africa.
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