The onestop shop, as they call it. And the government above and beyond that is setting up a fund, a guarantee fund to assist these small and Mediumsized Enterprises of the private sector to get going and to grow strong this guarantee fund, we hope, that will help the young particularly who are entrepreneurs who have something to give, who are interested in doing something to get the necessary loans from lending institutions under the overall guarantee fund that the government is now offering to that end. Let me say a word about our external partners. The borders of republic of congo are wide open, and we have seen how Business Partners have come to us from very far away, as far away as australia, certainly europe, the United States and are active in various sectors of our economy, and we are all in favor of that. Were very pleased to see it because this will spur the development of our smes, but also, certainly, will redound to the benefit of our Larger Companies and the sectors of oil, iron ore, phosphates and numerous other Important Industries that exist in our country. At the government level, we have set clear guidelines, set a clear course for the next 15 years such that major investment had been made in the industrialization and the modernization of the country. Our vision of industrialization will be, certainly, also based on the development of ago row industry and agriculture both. You have been in office a lengthy period, and according to term and age limits set forth in your countrys current constitution, your second and final term as president ends in 2016. There is talk of efforts to amend the constitution to the allow you to serve a third term. Do you support these efforts, and if successful, will you seek a third term . And you have to realize we are getting ready for our own american president ial election in a few years where there are term limits. But a number of people are inquiring about your future plans. [speaking in native tongue] [laughter] translator on the matter of constitutional reform, there is ongoing discourse in my country on this subject. Thats no secret. And people are debating, legitimately, whether this makes sense. Whether the constitution should be reformed not so much, let me say, because of me personally. The issue has to do with the limits that are set in the constitution. This is not a question of one or another person. It is truly a constitutional issue. So the debate is being held, it is a free debate, and people are giving the matter some thought. Should the constitution be reformed to allow further mandate . That is something that the people of the republic of congo themselves will have to decide, and there would have to be a referendum to that effect. So its entirely up to them. It will, in any event, be the people itself that will speak out. This cannot be be in any way something that flows from any one individuals desire to cling on to power. This is a bigger and broader question. Its an open question. And one that really has to do with our future, with the visage that the country itself has of itself. So i just let the debate go on, and well see where it takes us. Thank you. In my introductory remarks, i mentioned how you are devoting your government to protecting human rights. Nevertheless, there are some human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and freedomhouse who feel there are still restrictions on press freedoms, the rights of assembly and the rights of free expression. As you answered the previous question so thoroughly, i wonder if i could ask you what will you do to continue to advance such freedoms in your country . [speaking in native tongue] translator well, these freedoms exist. I spoke earlier of countries in africa that have numerous different Political Parties. I think in the case of the congo for four million inhabitants, we have, let me be see, i think 150 Political Parties at last could be give or take at last count, give or take a few. These are legal, legally established, formally incorporated Political Parties that carry on their activities as they see fit. There are trade unions that are freely established and are certainly very free in conducting their business as they see it, and the press is perfectly free in my country. We are, i think, in a sense a mecca for the press. There isnt any freer press than the press in the congo. There is a law that has been voted upon by parliament that protects journalists. No journalist can be arrested or thrown into prison for his or her opinion. The freedom of the press, freedom of speech are absolutely guaranteed by law in the republic of congo, and so if 150 Political Parties are conducting their business freely and trade unions and the press too, i dont, i dont know a Single Person who has been detained for his or her opinion. The ngos are free. As i say, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. I think its a reach to think that there is a limit. I think theres quite abundant freedom, at least as far as i can tell. Thank you. I thought it was important to ask the question, and im pleased you gave a very detailed answer. We are almost out of time, but before asking the last question, we have a couple of housekeeping matters to take care of. First of all, id like to remind you about our Upcoming Events and speakers. On monday, august 4th, his excellency, jacob zuma, president of south africa, will be our guest of honor on the 20th anniversary year of Nelson Mandela speaking at the National Press club as president , and im pleased that we have with us today as a distinguished guest his excellency, ibrahim rasul, the ambassador of south africa. [applause] on september 17th john g. Stump, ceo of wells fargo be, will be with us. And on september 19th, larry merlot, president and ceo of cvs corporation, and stay tuned for more speakers planned by our Speakers Committee under swrerly and donna for the remainder of the year. And now id like to present you, sir, with our traditional National Press club mug which we are always pleased to do. [laughter] for our distinguished leaders. I know you may have other mugs, but this one is very special. [laughter] and i would like to ask [applause] id like to ask any journalist who interviewed president nguesso to report back to me if you dont see that mug there. [laughter] [speaking in native tongue] translator well, i will take my morning tea in this mug, thank you very much. [applause] thank you. Our final question is generally in a lighter mood, but this is a question not meant to be light or serious, but a real, practical issue. How often is your country confused with the democratic republic of congo [laughter] and how do you answer, how do you handle such errors . [speaking in native tongue] how often is your country refused, the relick of congo, with the democratic republic of congo, and how do you handle such misunderstandings . Speak [speaking in native tongue] translator how often . All the time. [laughter] and wed like very much for the drc to become zaire again. That would do it. [laughter] [applause] i wondered a while whether i should ask that question, and im glad i did. [laughter] thank you so much, your excellency. And thank you all for coming today. [applause] and thank you to you all. Thank you, again, to our partners in the World Affairs council d. C. We are adjourned. Translator please return your receivers to the table outside to. [inaudible conversations] please return your translating devices our foundation on your screen here on cspan2, that is the former mayor of new york city Michael Bloomberg introducing day two of over 50 heads of african nations. President obama is hosting the threeday event and day two focusing on business. Opening remarks here from the former mayor, also commerce secretary Penny Pritzker. The president will speak later, also the Vice President and the heads of a number of mayor u. S. Corporations. Its just getting started, so is our live coverage here on cspan2. That part of our relationship still is vitally important, but africa has now developed into a Global Economic force, and so our relationship must evolve and mature. And that is the purpose of this forum, to recast our relationship as a full, equal and advanced Economic Partnership, a partnership that holds as much promise for african countries as it does for america. We have the people in this room to make that partnership a success, so to start off the morning, i would like to invite all of you to take a few seconds to introduce yourself to the person next to you or someone you have not met yet. [laughter] [applause] [inaudible conversations] we can go on with this. This is doing exactly what we want to do. [inaudible conversations] as we all know, as we all know whether its in our families or our businesses or our countries, relationships are what matters. And thats the whole idea here today, to get to know each other, to develop contacts and to show our Mutual Respect, one for another. And thank you. Thank you. Clearly, a lot to talk about, and there will be more opportunities to continue our conversations. There is so much to discuss because africa is todays biggest Market Opportunity in the global economy. And if you think im kidding, just look at the numbers. Africa is expected to reach a 5 overall growth rate in 2015. It boasts six of the worlds ten Fastest Growing economies. It registered more than 400,000 new companies in the last year alone. And its middle class or consumer class is the Fastest Growing in the world. The fact is africa is no longer emerging, it is here now. As africa begins a new stage in its journey, we in america want to walk by its side. But we also realize that we have some catching up to do. Foreign investment in africa has reached record highs, but the United States is being driven more by its own domestic policies, and we are letting europe and china go faster than the u. S. And while our exports to the continent are at a record high, its also true that only 2 of our total exports go to africa. And that means that were missing out on a major opportunity to create jobs here at home. In america there is a disconnect between the reality of the African Market and the perception of the African Market. And this conference is aimed at fixing that. Countries and companies that ignore the African Market do so at their own peril, and they will and that will become increasingly true with each passing year. The business that i own, bloomberg lp, has offices in six countries in africa, eight cities, employing more than 160 people including more than 120 fulltime and freelance journalists, and we are growing there. In fact, the First Business trip that i took after leaving office in january was to south africa to help expand our offices both in capetown and joburg. We also launched a 10 million Training Program to increase Financial Reporting on the continent and help make African Markets more transparent. We worked closely with african football institutions financial institutions, private companies and central bankers to help them maximize efficiency, mitigate risk and increase capital flows. And that not only helps the local financial markets, it also helps attract more foreign supervisionment. Investment. My foundation has also been investing in africa for years. We didnt just start helping africa, weve been doing it for a long time because the research is clear that perhaps the best single investment you can make to spur Economic Development is to improve public health. In zambia, for instance, were working to stop the spread of malaria. In tanzania, senegal, uganda and burkina faso, were helping to prevent maternal deaths. And in 34 countries were fighting to reduce the deadly scourge of tobacco use. All of those efforts are saving lives and also supporting Economic Development because the healthier a society is, the more productive it is and the greatest its potential for growth. Were also working to create jobs through Training Programs in rwanda and the democratic republic of congo. President paul of rwanda and the president of the democratic republic of the congo are both here today, and both have been leaders in promoting sustainable farming. And to support that work, we provide the resources and training to help women create independent Coffee Farming businesses. More than 108,000 women have benefited from this program so far, and if you had a cup of coffee this morning, you are benefiting from it too. Now, if you didnt get much sleep last night, have a second cup. [laughter] in the decades ahead, i dont think theres any limit to the progress that africa can make. Imagine for a moment an african labor force that will surpass indias and triple the size of europes. Imagine an africa where extreme poverty as we know it is virtually eliminated, where a consumer class with rising incomes has greater purchasing power be, where Broadband Access stretches from cairo to cape town and all points in between, where Climate Change policies that protect africas coastal cities and farmlands go hand in hand with Economic Growth and where people from around the world want to live and work to experience africas natural beauty, diverse cultures and tolerant societies. That is the africa that africans want for their children and their childrens children. And its the africa that all of us can help bring to life if we seize the moment. Based on the Incredible Energy in this room, ive never been more optimistic about africas future, and i know that president obama and secretary pritzker feel the same way. The secretary deserves an enormous amount of credit for her leadership in pulling this conference together, and it is now my pleasure to turn the floor over to her. Secretary pritzker . [applause] [inaudible conversations] terrific, thank you. Thank you. Good morning and welcome to all the heads of state and leaders of businesses here with us today. And thank you to Michael Bloomberg for your leadership, and thank you to bloomberg philanthropies for your partnership in organizing this forum. I also want to acknowledge my deputy chief of staff, theo la comet, who played the lead role on behalf of the department of commerce in putting together this extraordinary event. I have known Michael Bloomberg for over a decade. Hes been a great source of wisdom and advice to me. And ive admired the way he led new york city, the way hes run his businesses and the way hes committed himself and his organization to africa and its people. It is always great pleasure to work with him, and as part of the large gathering of african heads of state ever hosted by an american president , we are both excited to welcome you to this historic event, bringing together remarkable numbers of ceos to discuss Business Opportunities in africa. Last year president obama traveled to the university of cape town to usher in a new chapter of the u. S. africa relationship. He called on students there, along with leaders from the 54 distinct countries of the African Union and leaders from the United States, to embrace key tenets of his vision for our alliance; to advance progress in democratic institutions, to strengthen peace and prosperity, to encourage opportunity and development and to spur Economic Growth, trade and investment. As americas chief commercial officer, i feel strongly that this last pillar, the u. S. Africa Economic relationship, is fundamental to our mutual peace and prosperity. We know that businesses serve as a key bridge between our continents, but we also share the conviction that the ties of commerce can be stronger, deeper and more lasting. When i led a trade mission to nigerian ghana this past may, i heard a variation of this message from public and private sector leaders alike. The u. S. africa commercial partnership is essential, and the time to do business in africa is no longer five years away. The time to do business there is now. Today on both sides of the atlantic there is a clear, mutual desire to deepen our ties of trade and investment because doing so will spur growth across the United States and the countries of africa. Investing in africa will create jobs in charlotte, north carolina, and expand the power supply in ghana because of the 175 million deal to upgrade an electricity grid, a direct result of our recent trade mission. Investing in africa will support workers in california and strengthen the health of patients in nigeria because of the mou signed by Environmental Chemical Corporation to construct a stateoftheart cancer institute. Investing in africa will spur job growth in cincinnati through Procter Gambles 900 million 300 Million Investment in a new manufacturing plan. Because when p g expands in nigeri