Energy Leadership Roundtable

"STRENGTHENING U.S. ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH THE DIASPORA"

Hosted by The Honorable Vicky A. Bailey Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs U.S. Department of Energy

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2003

For further information, contact: Mr. Jerry V. Curry: (866) 663-9045

The National Council of Minorities in Energy (NCME) is a non-profit organization working to create a more diverse domestic and international market in the energy sector and energy related fields. NCME has been established to be the nation's premier trade association to educate, advocate for, and promote the development and utilization of, minority-owned businesses in the energy related fields. As such we were pleased to participate in the Energy Leadership Roundtable which was convened on September 24, 2003 in Washington, D.C. The Energy Leadership Roundtable hosted by the Honorable Vicky A. Bailey, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs and convened by American Association of Blacks in Energy and Constituency for Africa "Strengthening U.S. Energy Security Through the Diaspora" focused on bringing together high-level officials from the Bush Administration, Members of the U.S. Congress and staff, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGO's), industry associations, and private-sector leaders for a meaningful discussion on U.S. energy security priorities and how the African-American community can and should positively impact U.S.-Africa energy policy and create business opportunities for U.S. minority and women-owned firms.

The Energy Leadership Roundtable was an excellent opportunity for NCME, United States government representatives, members of the African Diplomatic Corps, representatives of NGO's and private-sector leaders to remark on opportunities and provide suggestions for increased U.S. - Africa trade and investment as a result of strengened cooperation in the energy sector, and how small and medium-scale enterprises might fully participate in this process.

Expected outcomes from the session will include policy recommendations for DOE and a strategy framework for improving access to energy-sector opportunities for minority, women-owned, and indigenous African energy companies.