, it's because they see agoa linked to energy. we don't go quite that way but that's how the african ambassadors and that's of the african heads look at that, those two issues. but with reference to the u.s.-african ministerial. leadership africa had the privilege of coordinating that meeting in ethiopia on behalf of the u.s. department of energy. i was happy to do that you've department of energy and those who attended thought it was successful. yes, we did have 500 participants. had about 120 corporations, both the u.s. and african companies participate. it was successful enough that when i came back and what i heard in ethiopia, i've been pushing, this is one i want to me, that we need follow-up. we need consistent intentional follow-up. we didn't get into it to coordinate with u.s. department of energy and we had 13 u.s. energy put this thing without there being follow-up. with the focus of that was power africa. they announced beyond the grave at that session in ethiopia and it is going forward but i'm going to suggest to pic

they see agoa linked to energy. we don't do it quite that way, but that's how the african ambassadors and that's how the african heads look at that, those two issues. there was reference earlier to the u.s. africa ministerial. u.s. africa had the privilege of coordinating that meeting in ethiopia on behalf of the u.s. department of energy. so i was happy to hear that the u.s. department of energy and those who attended felt it was successful, and yes, we did have 500 participants. we had about 120 cooperations, both u.s. and african companies participate, and it was successful enough that when i came back and what i'd heard in ethiopia, i've been pushing, and this is the point i want to make, that we need follow-up. we need consistent intentional follow-up. we didn't get into it to coordinate with the u.s. department of energy, and we had 13 u.s. energies participating without there being follow up. and the focus of that was power africa, they announced beyond the grid at that session in ethiopia, and it is going fo

can do hopefully before lame duck is over is take care of two things, power africa over in the sand agoa. to the extent we can increase our participation because i know i heard from many african countries how much they do enjoy business with us that sometimes we put our own roadblocks up. so mr. williams, i was asking the first panel about power afric and its reach into urban areas in residential areas, not the commercial and also in the rural areas if you representing civil society. i wanted to know your take on the question i asked the first panel. >> i believe -- is anecdotal to some extent but i do believe having come out of the u.s./africa ministerial, and looking at the effective role and amount of discussion we talked about with grids, the grids, getting electricity into rural areas and at the leaders' summit attended a session called africa rising and there were many entrepreneur real -- sustainable, going into rural communities and creating opportunities for young people to supply electricity and make a little bit of money to keep it going and keep their incentives up. is happen

half dozen states and i think bringing the energy and resources of the private sector whether through agoa, through mcc to bear in making progress is critical. i also want to make sure that you are keeping in mind that we have democracy on the continent after africa where they're seeking to change the constitution to avoid the accountability of free, fair and open elections and that's something we have to balance as well. >> absolutely. >> you've been here a long time. although i have many questions and i am confident you would answer them, let me ask a last question if i could given your unique role as having serve ld served significantly here and in the executive office of the president and now going to the state department. how can we improve communication, collaboration relationships between this committee, this body, this senate, and the white house? >> i actually think it's in a sense pretty simple, and it goes to something chairman menendez talked to me about last week. something i feel strongly about. and that is giving real meaning to the word consultation. i heard the chairman lo

half dozen states and i think bringing the energy and resources of the private sector whether through agoa, through mcc to bear in making progress is critical. i also want to make sure that you are keeping in mind that we have democracy on the continent after africa where they're seeking to change the constitution to avoid the accountability of free, fair and open elections and that's something we have to balance as well. you've been here a long time. although i have many questions and i am confident you would answer them, let me ask a last question if i could given your unique role of serving here and in the executive office of the president and going to the state didn't, how can we improve communication, collaboration and relationships between this committee, this body, the senate and the white house. >> it goes to something that chairman menendez talked to me about last week. something i feel strongly about. that gives real meaning to the word consultation, i heard the chairman loud and clear. i also heard from ranking member corker on this. we can always do a better job and i am determ

we spent some time working on agoa. it is up for reauthorization between now and september 15th ended is a very important initiative and this afternoon, we in the ngo community, civil society, we lindagoa to energy. you won't make the kind of changes and productivity you want from agoa because you don't have the energy and power for the metrics to solve the solutions so i am saying to you we link like the african ambassadors at the later summit. they link agoa and energy, the key priorities for them and i want to suggest when i mention him, prepared remarks, it is because they seek agoa link to energy. that is how the amex--african ambassadors miss out and the way they look at those two issues. there is reference earlier this morning to the u.s./africa energy ministerial. leadership africa has the privilege of coordinating that meeting in ethiopia on behalf of the department of energy. i was happy to hear the u.s. department of energy and those who attended fog was successful and yes, we had 500 participants, 120 corpor