U.S. businesses have been prominent during this week's U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit and, more specifically, at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. Some highlights from Business Roundtable CEOs and others from their companies.

Blackstone Group news release, "Blackstone-Backed Black Rhino and Dangote Industries to Invest $5 Billion in African Energy Infrastructure Projects":

New York, New York, August 5, 2014.  Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Dangote Industries today announced a commitment by Black Rhino, a portfolio company of Blackstone Energy Partners and affiliated funds managed by Blackstone, and Dangote Industries to jointly invest up to $5 billion over the next five years in energy infrastructure projects across Sub-Saharan Africa with a particular emphasis on power, transmission and pipeline projects. ...

The 50/50 partnership was announced by Aliko Dangote during his remarks today at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, hosted by the Obama Administration in Washington, D.C.  The summit is the largest event that any U.S. President has held with African Heads of State. Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone’s Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum also attended and spoke at the summit. 

Schwarzman and Dangote discuss the investment plans in this Bloomberg TV interiew, and Schwarzman is eloquent in this separate interview about Africa's needs: 70 percent of the people in sub-Sahara Africa lacks electricity. "It's so difficult to contemplate, because it affects development," he explains. In total, there's a $300 billion need for energy investment in the region.

General Electric steps up, as well. From Bloomberg, "GE Sees $2 Billion Africa Spending, Doubling of Workforce:"

General Electric Co. (GE:US) will invest about $2 billion in Africa by 2018 and double the local workforce in what Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt calls one of the world’s most-promising markets.

“Africa is one of the most important growth areas, purely from an economic standpoint,” Immelt said at a media event for the start of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington being hosted by President Barack Obama. “It’s early. It’s in very early days for Africa, so there’s still a lot yet to be done and the notion of having the summit here says that it’s important.”

GE won about $8.3 billion in orders in Africa over the last year as it accelerates operations in a continent where Immelt said sales were “almost zero” in 2000. Revenue there last year was $5.2 billion, according to GE, which estimates that Africa’s basic infrastructure needs could generate $90 billion in investment opportunities.

And from GE's IdeasLab, "Investing Without Borders in Africa," and "Powering Africa: Q&A with Andrew M. Herscowitz." 

In related news, "GE warns that closing ExIm Bank would hit US-Africa trade":

A US Congress decision to close the country's Export-Import Bank would damage American companies trying to do business in Africa, says the head of a leading US company.

The warning by Jeff Immelt, chairman of General Electric, came as Washington tries to boost US-Africa trade in an effort to catch up with China, Japan and the EU, whose economic links with Africa are booming.

From The Peoria Journal Star: "Caterpillar CEO: Company will be active at U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit":

PEORIA — Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman expects to be an active participant in the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit set for this week in Washington, D.C.

While announcing $11 million in investments to help fight poverty and bring clean water to Africa through the Caterpillar Foundation, Oberhelman said he was excited to be taking part in meetings that could help bring the United States and Africa closer together.

“I’m delighted that this country is finally paying attention to Africa,” said the Caterpillar CEO, noting that China has paid plenty of attention to the continent, supporting infrastructure in Africa while engaging in joint mining ventures with many African nations.

From Walmart, "Doug McMillon Speaks at U.S.-Africa Business Forum: Walmart President and CEO joins top U.S. and African business executives, African heads of state and the U.S. government to build relationships and strengthen business ties":

McMillon reiterated Walmart’s commitment to the continent: “We’re investing in Sub-Saharan Africa for the long term, empowering African producers through hands-on training and using our global supply chain to connect them with our businesses around the world.

“Everywhere we operate we see that our customers have so much in common.  Our customers in Africa want to spend less on everyday needs so they can provide more for their families.  We want to help.”

Many, many other companies are active in Africa and were represented at the business summit: Dow Chemical, MasterCard, IBM, etc. USA TODAY has a good summary, "Business sets sights on African middle class," and AP reports, "Obama: US companies to invest $14B in Africa."