PREPARATIONS FOR MAY 28-31 ECONOMIC OUTREACH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000336 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y STATE PASS TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR JOVITA CARRANZA STATE PASS TO THE OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION FOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT JOHN SIMON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL PGOV AO SUBJECT: PREPARATIONS FOR MAY 28-31 ECONOMIC OUTREACH INTERAGENCY VISIT REF: A) LUANDA 330 B) STATE 41383 LUANDA 00000336 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Post warmly welcomes the May 28-31 interagency visit of senior U.S. officials to Angola, including Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Jovita Carranza, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation John Simon (to be confirmed), and AF Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Carol Thompson. On April 25, Assistant Secretary Frazer raised the visit with President Dos Santos (ref A),highlighting the trip as a first step in responding to his request to deepen our bilateral relationship by promoting economic diversification and increased U.S. investment. We believe the visit will enable us to expand USG outreach and, as a result, help build a more robust and extended dialogue on economic issues of mutual interest. ¶2. Post offers the following notional schedule for consideration: Day 1 08:00 - Breakfast and Country Team Briefing hosted by the Charge d' affairs 10:00 - Workshop I: Private Sector Led Economic Growth Open: Carol Thompson Speaker: John Simon, OPIC (TBC) Counterpart: Ministry of Finance 11:15 - Coffee/Tea 11:30 - Workshop II: Enabling the Small Business Environment Open: Carol Thompson Speaker: Jovita Carranza, SBA Counterpart: National Association of Private Investment (ANIP) 13:00 - Lunch Hosted by the Charge d' affairs with GRA Minister(s) 15:00 - Workshop III: Reviving the Agricultural Sector Open: Carol Thompson Speaker: Charles Rush, Foreign Agricultural Service Counterpart: Vice Minister of Agriculture 18:30 - Cocktail Reception at the U.S. Embassy Day 2 09:00 - Meeting at Ministry of External Relations (Minister or Vice Minister) 11:00 - Meeting at the National Bank of Angola (Governor or Vice Governor) 13:00 - Lunch with U.S. Business or with the U.S. Angola-Chamber of Commerce 15:00 - Meeting at Ministry of Finance (Minister or Vice Minister) 17:00 - Meeting at National Assembly to discuss legislating for business Other Options Meeting at MPLA Headquarters Site visits to foreign assistance projects Workshop on women entrepreneurs ¶3. Post appreciates Ambassador Diakite's April 17 pledge of support (ref B) to DAS Thompson, and is attempting (without success so far) to follow up on that offer directly with Ambassador Diakite, and with the Ministry of External Relations. We hope MIREX would be able to assist in making available an appropriate venue, In the absence of a MIREX venue, we propose to use the Embassy facilities, as commercial facilities are not available and facilities associated with American companies are comparable to what the Embassy has. Use of Embassy facilities cuts costs and simplifies all associated representational events, especially the ministerial lunch. Post will provide consecutive translation. Post is working with appropriate NGO's and the GRA to identify appropriate participants for each workshop; we anticipate up to 35 participants for each session. ¶4. Post is seeking accommodation for up to eight visitors. Please provide the names of delegation participants as soon LUANDA 00000336 002.2 OF 002 as possible. ¶5. Control Officer for the visit is P/E Chief Mitchell Ferguson. Post looks forward to suggestions to our proposed schedule and information related to participants in this important and timely delegation. MOZENA