African Ambassadors Make the Case for U.S. Companies to Do Business in Africa
February 5, 2015Bill Fanjoy is the Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Northern Virginia.
H.E. Ambassador Girma Birru of Ethiopia discussed the bilateral benefits of U.S.-Africa trade at a networking event with business leaders at the Embassy of Ethiopia.
It was our honor for the International Trade Administration to join the Virginia-Washington D.C. District Export Council and Ambassadors from three of Africa’s fastest-growing economies at a recent networking event focused on U.S. companies doing business in Africa.
The message from the Ambassadors from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania was loud and clear: “We are ready for your business to come to Africa.”
It’s not just these Ambassadors who think your business should be looking at Africa. The facts support them:
- Six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa.
- Consumer spending is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2020, up from $860 billion in 2008.
- Programs like Trade Africa and Power Africa under the President’s Doing Business in Africa campaign make it easier than ever for U.S. companies to take advantage of opportunities.
- Demand is growing across sectors, from infrastructure to mining to retail.
That’s why we were glad to be a part of this networking event, and why we’re taking it a step further this year with Trade Winds—Africa, the largest-ever U.S. government-led trade mission to Africa.
Participating in Trade Winds is a great opportunity to connect your business directly to opportunities in eight of the continent’s most promising markets. Our team will introduce you to the government leaders you need to know, connect you with the most qualified local partners, and provide you with the market insight to put you on the right track.
With Africa’s steady supply of resources, a growing population, an expanding consumer base, and increasing demand across sectors, there’s opportunity for almost any company—and there are a number of ways for you to take advantage:
- Sign up for email updates from our Doing Business in Africa team. We send out business tips and information about upcoming events to keep you in the know.
- Join us for a series of webinars on some of Africa’s most promising economies. Short of visiting the continents in person, there’s no better way to learn about the business opportunities available.
- Mark your calendar for Trade Winds—Africa Sept. 14-21, 2015. Register to join us or contact us with any questions.
Still not convinced? Stay tuned for details on an upcoming networking event at the South African Embassy, and let more African ambassadors tell you the truth—that Africa is ready for your business, and that there are few markets in the world as ready to help take your business to the next level.
(This post was edited on February 9, 2015 to include a link to the Doing Business in Africa website.)
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