Press Release
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wolin to Visit Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa
Trip to Highlight Importance of Continent’s Key Economic Growth Issues, Including Infrastructure, Food Security and Investment
October 22, 2009
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin will travel to Africa from October 28 - November 5, 2009. The Deputy Secretary will meet with senior government officials in Kigali, Rwanda; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss strategies to reduce poverty and drive economic growth in the region.
“The global financial crisis proved – if anyone still doubted it – that the economies of the world are inextricably intertwined,” said Deputy Secretary Wolin. “This trip will serve as an important opportunity for us to engage with our partners in Africa and to discuss how we can best work together to promote strong, sustainable growth in years to come.”
Deputy Secretary Wolin’s trip will highlight U.S.-African partnerships, including President Obama’s commitment to advance food security and sustainable agricultural-led growth through country-owned strategies, as well as with respect to bolstering infrastructure, strengthening the financial sector, and improving the investment climate. The U.S. provides substantial development assistance in these areas through the work of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as through its leadership at and funding for the World Bank and African Development Bank.
The visit marks the first trip to Africa by a senior Treasury official during the Obama Administration. Additional details regarding the Deputy Secretary’s schedule will be made available in the days ahead.