Bill would strengthen Economic and Cultural Relations Between Virginia and African Nations

Today, the Virginia Senate unanimously passed Sen. Jennifer McClellan’s (D-Richmond) SB 491 to establish the Virginia African Diaspora Advisory Board to work with the Governor on ways to boost economic and cultural relations between the Commonwealth and African nations, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, agriculture, art, and education, and government.

Virginia is home to more than 115,000 people in the African Diaspora community. The Virginia African Diaspora Advisory Board will build on this connection, working with companies to increase trade and economic engagement with the fast-growing African market. 

“Virginia is proud to be home to a growing and thriving African Diaspora community,” McClellan said. “The Virginia African Diaspora Advisory Board will help strengthen our communities in Virginia and increase our economic relationship with the growing markets in African nations. I’m thankful for the hard work of African Diaspora community leaders in helping to pass this bill through the Senate, and I look forward to passing it into law.”

The Board will function similarly to existing advisory boards in Virginia, such as the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, the Virginia Latino Advisory Board and the Virginia Council on Women. 

The African Diaspora Advisory Board will be made up of 21 members, including 18 nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor. The Secretaries of Agriculture and Forestry, Commerce and Trade, and Education or their designees will also serve as ex officio members of the Board. 

Across the United States, African Diasporans are one of the fastest-growing populations of immigrants in America. From 2010 to 2018, the population of African immigrants grew by 50%. In Virginia, thousands of members of the African Diaspora community are small and medium businesses owners that have generated over $205 million in international trade.

“I’d like to thank State Senator McClellan and Delegate Maldonado for being the lead sponsors and working across the aisle to uplift the diaspora,” said Bo Machayo of the Virginia African Diaspora Committee. “These bipartisan bills will create a strategic partnership between Virginia and African nations. As a child of immigrants and member of the African diaspora community, I’m honored to have been a leading voice to this effort and to call Virginia home.” 

“As the fastest growing immigrant population in Virginia, the passage of the African Diaspora Advisory Board and African Diaspora Heritage show, not only shows the welcomeness of the Commonwealth, but their investment into our future,” said Philomena Desmond, Virginia African Diaspora Committee. “We are proud to call Virginia home and delighted to have our voices, which represent all corners of Africa and the commonwealth, represented in Richmond.” 

“By establishing an African Advisory Board, Virginia and it’s economy will continue to thrive by opening trade and business opportunities in the largest emerging continent for strategic sectors. The diaspora is already made up of many entrepreneurs,” said Kingsley Obaji of the US Africa Economic Alliance. “These bills will put the commonwealth one step ahead of other states by helping to fortify partnerships and relationships for Virginia that have already existed on personal levels.” 

The passage of this legislation also comes after the Virginia Senate passed McClellan’s resolution (SJ 34) last month to establish September as Virginia African Diaspora Heritage Month. Delegate Michelle Maldanado (D-Prince William) carried House companion legislation to SB 491 and SJ 34.