VOA标准英语2013--Obama Means Business During Africa Trip

Obama Means Business During Africa Trip

JOHANNESBURG — This is only Obama’s second trip to sub-Saharan Africa, after he made a brief stop in 2009 in the West African nation of Ghana. There, he spoke¹ about the importance of democracy.

This time, his focus is different. The president is expected to talk about economic growth, among other issues, with officials in Africa’s economic powerhouse, South Africa.

Trade between South Africa and the U.S. totaled $22 billion in 2011, according to the U.S. government.  South Africa is a major destination for international brands and also has its own burgeoning² industries.

South Africa also benefits from duty-free import status to America, which has allowed the nation to export high-value items such as cars.

South Africa has also made its own move to boost³ trade by becoming the newest member of BRICS, a group of emerging⁴ economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

The U.S. consulate⁵ in Johannesburg has placed itself squarely in the middle of the bustling⁶ Sandton business district, home of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Senior Commercial Officer Larry Farris says trade between Africa and the U.S. is growing - and changing.

“The interesting thing is, is it’s gone from being, just primarily a focus on import of raw materials and primary products to be one that shows a lot more diversity and a lot more interests in looking at both trade into the US and into South Africa in areas that represent higher value, represent technology, represent a lot of where the growth in the international markets are," said Farris.

Officials could not say what sort of deals Obama may sign while in Africa.  But Farris says the engines of business are churning on the continent.

“I think there’s a lot of excitement about some of the things that are going on in eastern Africa right now, where a number of the countries there have come together, working on free trade agreements, working on increasing connections between their countries, infrastructure⁷ and the like, and all of that is really good for business. At the same time, there’s a real focus on that part of the continent on making a really solid business environment," he said.

Whatever happens during Obama’s visit, one thing is sure: this continent is open for business. 

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 burgeoning   

adj.迅速成长的，迅速发展的v.发芽，抽枝( burgeon的现在分词 )；迅速发展；发（芽），抽（枝）

参考例句：

• Our company's business is burgeoning now. 我们公司的业务现在发展很迅速。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These efforts were insufficient to contain the burgeoning crisis. 这些努力不足以抑制迅速扩散的危机。 来自辞典例句

3 boost   

n.鼓励，激励，提高；v.鼓励，使增强信心

参考例句：

• This will be a great boost to the economy.这对于经济发展将是一个巨大的促进。
• These changes will help to boost share prices.这些变化将有助于提高股票价格。

4 emerging   

adj.正在不断出现的

参考例句：

• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
• I saw the woman emerging out of a shop. 我看见那个妇女从商店里走出来。

5 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

6 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。