Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema has left the country for New York in the United States to attend this year’s ‘US Africa Leaders’ Summit’ scheduled for 13th December 2022.

US President Joe Biden has invited 50 African leaders to the summit to discuss matters affecting the United States of America and African countries at the summit dubbed U.S. Africa Leaders’ Summit 2022.

Speaking before departure Hakainde Hichilema said: “We have left for Washington DC, in the United States to participate in the ‘US Africa Leaders’ Summit’ scheduled for 13th December 2022.

“The Summit that will be hosted by the US President Joe Biden, will be attended by fellow African Heads of State and Government as well as Captains of Industry, the Civil Society and US-African business leaders and investors among others.

“We will take advantage of the occasion to hold bilateral engagements with fellow Heads of State and Government and also take part in sideline meetings with corporate leaders to market Zambia to the international investment and trade markets, as we have always done. We will keep you our fellow citizens, informed.”

The summit is the second after former US President Barrack Obama held the inaugural 8 years ago.

That first U.S. Africa Summit in 2014 announced the engagement of new private sector commitments to invest and partner with African countries on initiatives in energy, financial services, climate change, food security and health care, among other areas.

Under Biden’s administration, this year’s summit is expected to prioritise similar issues, while emphasising bilateral trade and investment initiatives.