WELCOME MESSAGE

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Access Africa Forum.This two-day conference features business and government leaders from Portugal, the United States and Lusophone Africa to promote partnerships for increased trade and investment in Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

In 2008, when the world economy grew by only 2.9%, these Lusophone African markets expanded by 13.2% (Angola), 5.9% (Cape Verde), and 6.8% (Mozambique) – reflections of a trend that in many cases began half a decade ago or more. As these economies continue to grow, so does the demand for quality goods and services ranging from infrastructure and energy equipment to medical technology and legal services.

Portugal maintains a close and productive relationship with Lusophone Africa through its common language, direct transport links, shared legal framework, and longstanding business ties. It is therefore uniquely positioned to serve as an effective “gateway” for companies seeking greater levels of business in these markets.

I sincerely hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the markets, the opportunities, the partnership potential, and the programs available on all three continents to make your business succeed in an important and growing part of the world economy.
I also encourage you to stay tuned to this website, where we will post all conference materials and presentations after the event. It is our intent to make this the beginning of a dynamic process to continue the cooperation and opportunities created by this conference.

Ambassador Allan J. Katz
U.S. Ambassador to Portugal