DFC CEO Ben Black Highlights Africa's Strategic Economic Promise at Atlantic Council Forum

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:03:39 +0000
Financial Services

DFC CEO Ben Black delivered the opening keynote at the Atlantic Council's 'Investing in Africa Forum' on April 16, 2026, on the margins of the 2026 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. Black underscored Africa's central role in future global economic growth, citing the continent's expanding markets, workforce, consumer bases, and vast reserves of critical minerals including cobalt, lithium, titanium, and graphite. The speech outlined DFC's strategic approach to investing in energy, technology, infrastructure, logistics, healthcare, and financial services across Africa as part of U.S. economic statecraft to counter geopolitical competitors.