Policy Dialogue with the Zimbabwe Ambassador to the USA

The purpose of our event was to explore the topic of Foreign Policy in Africa and how the continent can engage with the rest of the world. Specifically, we aimed to deepen and expand the long-term U.S.-Africa partnership to advance shared priorities, as discussed in the 2022 U.S.-Africa Summit.

One major point of consideration is China's increasing role as Africa's largest bilateral trading partner, with trade hitting $254 billion in 2021, surpassing U.S.-Africa trade by a factor of four. China is also the largest provider of foreign direct investment in Africa, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. However, the majority of African exports to the rest of the world still heavily focus on natural resources, while manufactured goods account for more than half of total imports into African jurisdictions. Thus, we aimed to address the question of how Africa can reposition itself to engage and trade strategically with the rest of the world.

Another important issue that we discussed was the threat to Africa's economic growth in the face of global shifts towards clean energy, highlighted by the recent COP27 Summit. With its rich reserves of minerals, Africa must discover its voice and unique comparative advantage in positioning itself as a serious global player. We discussed how Africa, and specifically Zimbabwe, can leverage its 1.4 billion people, youthful population, and natural resources to achieve this goal.

Overall, the event sought to unpack Africa's unique opportunities and foreign policy priorities, with the aim of stimulating dialogue and shaping policy decisions that can drive the continent towards greater success in the global arena. The event was moderated by Professor Matthew Andrews, the Edward S. Mason Senior Lecturer in International Development.

• https://apj.hkspublications.org/zimbabwes-ambassador-urges-africas-seat-at-the-table-and-an-end-to-us-sanctions/