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Skriven 2007-06-08 23:31:44 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070608e) for Fri, 2007 Jun 8
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Fact Sheet: A Record of Commitment to Africa
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 8, 2007

Fact Sheet: A Record of Commitment to Africa

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ Infocus: Africa ÿÿÿÿÿ Infocus: HIV/AIDS


U.S. Plans To Substantially Increase Resources For Fight Against Global
HIV/AIDS

Today, Leaders Of Industrialized Nations Discussed Africa At The G-8 Summit
In Heiligendamm, Germany. President and Mrs. Bush and other world leaders
concluded the three-day G-8 Summit, which was hosted by German Chancellor
Merkel. At the Summit, G-8 leaders demonstrated their commitment to work
with Africa to facilitate opportunity and conflict resolution and to combat
the scourge of infectious diseases.

President Bush Plans To Double America's Commitment To Fight Global
HIV/AIDS

President Bush Has Announced A Five-Year, $30 Billion Plan To Substantially
Increase America's Commitment To Fight Global HIV/AIDS. The President will
work with Congress to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR) and double the initial $15 billion commitment, already the
largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease.
Assuming Congress meets the President's request for Fiscal Year 2008, and
with the new $30 billion plan, the American people have committed $48.3
billion across 10 years to fight global HIV/AIDS.
  þ After Three Years Of PEPFAR Implementation, The American People Have
    Supported Treatment For 1.1 Million People In 15 Countries, Including
    More Than 1 Million In Africa. The next phase of the American people's
    commitment to those suffering from HIV/AIDS will continue to expand
    life-saving treatment, comprehensive prevention programs, and care for
    those in need, including orphans and vulnerable children, to support:
      þ Treatment for 2.5 million people.
      þ Prevention of more than 12 million new infections.
      þ Care for more than 12 million people, including 5 million orphans
        and vulnerable children
  þ President Bush Has Called On Developed And Developing Countries _ In
    Particular Middle-Income Countries Where Projections Suggest Many New
    Infections Will Occur _ To Increase Their Contributions To Fighting
    AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that requires a global response. The
    U.S. currently provides as many resources for global HIV/AIDS as all
    other developed country governments combined. But only together can we
    turn the tide against the global epidemic.

The President's Malaria Initiative Is Saving Lives

The President's Malaria Initiative Is Combating Malaria In Fifteen Of The
Hardest-Hit African Countries. President Bush announced the President's
Malaria Initiative (PMI) in June 2005. A five-year, $1.2 billion program,
PMI challenges the private sector to join the U.S. government in combating
malaria, with the goal of cutting malaria's mortality rate by 50 percent in
these target countries, freeing these African nations and their citizens
from the grip of debilitating disease.
  þ Through Partnerships Working In The First Three Target Countries _
    Angola, Tanzania, And Uganda _ Aid From The American People Has Already
    Reached About Six Million Africans. In 2007, 30 million more will
    receive life-saving medicines, sprays, and nets as the program expands.
    Other target countries include: Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia,
    Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, and Zambia.

The Africa Financial Sector Initiative Will Address Gaps In Financing
Sources Available To African Businesses

The Africa Financial Sector Initiative (AFSI) Will Strengthen Financial
Markets, Mobilize Domestic And Foreign Investment, And Help Spur Job
Creation And Economic Growth In Africa. This initiative is expected to
mobilize up to $1 billion in privately-managed investment funds for Africa
and provide expert technical assistance specifically tailored to help
address structural impediments in Africa's financial sector.
  þ The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), An Independent U.S.
    Government Agency, Will Support The Creation Of New Private Equity
    Funds That May Mobilize Up To $800 Million Of Additional Investment In
    Africa.
      þ These dedicated funds will offer new financial instruments and
        services to African businesses, such as long-term debt, local
        currency debt, mezzanine financing, securities underwriting, and
        corporate bond issuance.
      þ Members of the U.S. financial community have already submitted 25
        proposals to OPIC for the Africa Capital Markets Fund, and OPIC
        will select funds to support by September 2007.
  þ OPIC Has Also Issued An Innovative Call For Proposals Seeking Private
    Equity Funds To Provide Capital To Businesses Serving Important Social
    Needs In Africa And Contributing To The Grassroots Development Of Its
    Private Sector. These dedicated funds will:
      þ Provide capital to businesses in sectors with a high developmental
        impact, such as water, healthcare, small and medium enterprise
        development, and education.
      þ Attract investors that prioritize both financial and social
        returns.
  þ The AFSI Technical Assistance Will Help Improve The Financial Sector
    Climate With The Goal Of Facilitating Increased Domestic And
    International Investment. Activities will:
      þ Strengthen country and regional debt markets by providing up to 10
        Treasury Department advisors through the FY 2008 to FY 2010 period.
      þ Launch remittance programs in Nigeria and West Africa through USAID
        to lower the cost of transfers.
      þ Develop payment systems and credit bureaus to support local retail
        and commercial banking.

The U.S. Is Expanding Education For The World's Poorest Children

Last Week, President Bush Announced A Plan To Expand Education Assistance
For Children In The World's Poorest Countries. The President will work
closely with Congress to provide an additional $525 million over five years
to promote the full development of human potential in partner countries
around the world. This plan has three components:
 1. "Communities Of Opportunity" Centers: These new centers will offer
    after-school training in English, computer skills, science, math,
    finance, and critical thinking to 100,000 at-risk youth in developing
    countries.
 2. Expanding Support For Basic Education Programs: The Administration will
    expand its support for basic education assistance in developing
    countries to provide up to 4 million more children with access to
    quality basic education in initial target countries through
    comprehensive programs.
 3. Better Coordination Of Education Resources: A new Coordinator for
    Education, based at the USAID, will direct a strategic use of resources
    that builds on America's current support for basic education, child
    health, and nutrition overseas. Resources will be targeted to countries
    that demonstrate a strong commitment _ including Fast Track Initiative
    endorsed education plans, budget transparency, and increased government
    spending on education.

This Plan Will Draw On Partnerships With The Private Sector, Including
Business And Non-Governmental Organization Leaders, Local Communities, And
Parents, To Further Expand Its Impact.

The U.S. Is On Track To Meet Its Goal Of Doubling Assistance To Sub-Saharan
Africa

At The Gleneagles G-8 Summit In 2005, President Bush Announced That The
United States Would Double Assistance To Sub-Saharan Africa Between 2004
And 2010 To $8.67 Billion. The United States is on track to meet that goal
with a preliminary estimate of $6.5 billion of bilateral and multilateral
assistance in 2006.

To Help Build On The Success Of The President's Development Agenda, Mrs.
Bush Will Visit Senegal, Mozambique, Zambia, And Mali On June 25-29, 2007.
While in Africa, Mrs. Bush will meet with community leaders and visit
participants in PEPFAR, PMI, and USAID's Africa Education Initiative
programs.

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