TWO TOP RANKING CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE 
UNITED STATES WANTS TO IMPROVE TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION WITH 
AFRICA.  THE CABINET SECRETARIES WERE AMONG 
SEVERAL OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE U-S CONFERENCE OF MAYORS SUMMIT 
ON AFRICA WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON.

COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY SAYS HE WILL LEAD A TRADE
DELEGATION TO AFRICA LATER THIS YEAR.  HE SAYS U-S EXPORTS TO THE
CONTINENT HAVE GROWN STEADILY SINCE 1994 TO SIX-BILLION DOLLARS 
IN 1996. 

         U-S DIRECT INVESTMENT IN AFRICA HAS ALSO YIELDED AN 
         EXTRAORDINARY RETURN -- A STAGGERING 31-PERCENT RETURN 
         ON BOOK VALUE IN 1996, WHICH IS COMPARED TO ONLY 
         12-PERCENT WORLDWIDE.

MR. DALEY SAYS DESPITE THE SUCCESS, AFRICA ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 
ABOUT ONE-PERCENT OF U-S EXPORTS.  HE WARNS AMERICAN BUSINESS 
LEADERS WILL TAKE CHANCES IN AFRICA ONLY IF THEY SEE A 
CONTINUATION OF STABLE GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATIZATION, TRANSPARENCY, 
AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO LOWER TRADE BARRIERS.

         AT THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE CREATING A NEW AFRICA
         COMMERCIAL STRATEGY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT 
         PRESIDENT CLINTON'S AFRICA INITIATIVE.  IT IS THE FIRST 
         TIME THAT ALL OF THE AGENCIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
         COMMERCE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON SUCH AN INTEGRATED EFFORT 
         TO ENHANCE TIES WITH AFRICA.

SECRETARY DALEY SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT WILL TARGET SPECIFIC 
INDUSTRIES WHERE U-S EXPERTISE MEETS AFRICAN DEMAND, INCLUDING 
AGRI-BUSINESS, ENERGY, COMPUTERS, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

ALSO ADDRESSING THE MAYORS WAS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RODNEY 
SLATER.  HE SAYS THE DAYS OF MARGINALIZATION OF AFRICA ARE OVER 
FOREVER, AND ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WILL SOON BE FOUND IN AVIATION.

         THERE ARE PRESENTLY  NO  DIRECT FLIGHTS BY U-S AIRLINES 
         TO AFRICA.  BUT THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE AND IT IS GOING 
         TO CHANGE SOON.  JUST LAST YEAR, KENYA, SOUTH AFRICA, 
         [AND]UGANDA GAVE APPROVAL TO U-S AIRLINES TO TEAM WITH 
         INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRIES, BOTH AS
         IT RELATES TO THE MOVEMENT OF PASSENGERS AND THE 
         MOVEMENT OF CARGO.  SO TODAY, YOU CAN FLY FROM CITIES 
         LIKE MIAMI AND NEW YORK TO SOUTH AFRICA -- AND SOON YOU 
         WILL BE ABLE TO FLY FROM OTHER U-S COMMUNITIES, U-S 
         CITIES, TO OTHER NATIONS OF AFRICA.

THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SAYS HE SEES PROGRESS WITH GHANA AND
SENEGAL, BUT SAYS THERE MUST ALSO BE AIR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR 
THE CONTINENT.

         I HAVE ASKED THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO 
         DEVELOP AN OUTLINE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THAT REGARD.
         RECENTLY, WE SENT A DELEGATION OF U-S BUSINESSES AND 
         MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO 
         AFRICA.  THEY MET WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS THERE.  AND THEY
         ARE BUILDING ON THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED.  AND WE WILL HAVE 
         AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THAT REGARD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

MR. SLATER SAYS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST CAUSE OF
DEATH AMONG YOUNG AFRICANS, AND AS A RESULT HIS DEPARTMENT HAS 
OPENED HIGHWAY TECHNOLOGY CENTERS IN TANZANIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.  
HE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT HOPES TO DO THE SAME THROUGHOUT AFRICA.