U.S. Chamber Names General James L. Jones Honorary Chair of Africa Business Initiative

General Joins Group to Promote Trade, Investment Between U.S. and Africa

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Africa Business Initiative (ABI) is honored to announce today that General James L. Jones, former United States National Security Advisor and retired United States Marine Corps General, will serve as the organization’s honorary chairman.

“I’m deeply honored to serve as the honorary chairman of the U.S. Chamber’s Africa initiative,” said General Jones.  “Africa is a strategically important continent with fast growing markets, enormous human potential, and an extraordinarily promising future. The people of Africa want and need greater economic engagement with the United States; and strengthening our commercial ties in this opportunity-filled region clearly serves America’s vital economic and national security interests.”

“As the world’s largest business organization, the U.S. Chamber’s leadership of this initiative is vital and will greatly advance the cause of energizing U.S. – Africa commercial, economic, and strategic engagement,” continued Jones. “I look forward to working with the Chamber, U.S. businesses, our friends and allies in Africa, and all stakeholders to advance U.S.-African commercial relations. Doing so will promote prosperity and forge stronger, geopolitically important partnerships for the 21st century.”

“General Jones offers decades of experience in navigating foreign policy, national security, and trade relations from the highest levels of both the public and private sectors,” added Scott Eisner, vice president of African Affairs and International Operations at the Chamber. “Some of the biggest obstacles that American companies face in economic engagement with African countries are the unknown and perceived risks.  General Jones’ global vision and expertise will help the ABI overcome those obstacles and introduce American companies to the vast economic opportunities across the African continent.”

The mission of the ABI is to engage the U.S. business community on legislative policies that foster foreign direct investment in Africa, to facilitate trade between the United States and African countries, and to introduce U.S. companies to the continent's vast economic opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.