US Assistant Secretary leads energy trade mission to Africa - US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson will lead an Energy Trade Mission to five African nations 6-17 Feb., the US State Department said in a statement obtained by PANA here Friday.

The countries are Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana.

During the mission, the delegation of U.S. government and private-sector executives will meet host country senior government officials to discuss challenges for U.S. private-sector investment in energy infrastructure projects.

Delegates from the American business community will represent firms in a position to advance large-scale, on-grid generation and fuel supply projects.

Discussions are to include specific constraints to attracting private-sector investment in the power generation and fuel supply sectors.

The statement said the mission would underscore economic development as a path towards sustained prosperity and peace, and highlight the U.S. initiatives in the region, such as the Partnership for Growth Initiative and the Millennium Challenge Corporation programs.

It will also provide an opportunity for U.S. power developers and fuel suppliers to promote new energy infrastructure projects.

Pana 03/02/2012