At the recent U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit, former President Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg accused American companies of “missing the boat” and falling behind China and Europe in doing business with African nations. In the words of President Clinton, the U.S. business community “needs this relationship as much or more as Africa and its business community.” President Obama has gone further, arguing that the United States must do more to help Africa benefit from economic growth and regard it as a partner of equals.
While these criticisms and pleas may be true in general terms, in fact the American oil and gas industry has long been a significant investor in Africa, and the healthy relationship we enjoy with many African nations looks like continuing in the future. U.S. energy companies, both large and small, are working successfully with local partners in every aspect of exploration and production, where we offer much needed expertise and technology to build long-term capacity and, in so doing, are contributing significantly to local businesses and communities.
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