ARTICLE
For immediate release World Trade Center Delaware joins national network of Africa Business Portal advisors Word Trade Center Delaware has joined a network of advisors, investors and business leaders inside the Africa Business Portal, an organization devoted to facilitating successful, transparent and long-lasting U.S.- Africa bilateral trade and investment. “There’s a strong commitment to Africa from the World Trade Center Delaware,” said Lee Clegg, president of the Africa Business Portal. “Delaware is a central place for American business, and the World Trade Center Delaware has services that will make it much easier for businesses in the United States to operate in Africa, and the other way as well.” The United States is well positioned to increase its reach in Africa aided thanks to the country’s strong product brands, a large and well-educated African diaspora, and a long history of humanitarian support on the continent, Clegg said. Africa Business Portal, based in Phoenix, is a private-sector outreach organization that capitalizes on and links together the most effective U.S. private, public, NGO, and educational resources. World Trade Center Delaware is now one of seven regional partners, alongside offices in Washington D.C., Chicago, Arkansas, Louisiana, Dallas, and Denver. “Our relationship with ABP will allow us to be more nimble, more flexible, and give World Trade Center Delaware members access to additional sources of information,” said Carla Sydney Stone, executive director of World Trade Center Delaware. “There are possibilities to bring so many resources together under one umbrella to expand trade, knowledge, relationships and cultural understanding.” Delaware already has significant trade connections with Africa. Fruits from Africa regularly flow through the Port of Wilmington, the nonprofit StartUp Africa is based out of Wilmington, and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, hosts his annual Opportunity: Africa conference in Delaware. Africa’s extensive natural resources – including minerals, oil and forestry – have made the continent a key resource for fueling global economic growth and stability. But beyond its well-known energy exports, Africa is increasingly known for its highly skilled workforce, as a leader in small-scale solar and mobile technologies, and as a source of plant materials for pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. Delaware businesses in telecommunications, healthcare, higher education and infrastructure will find new markets and business partners in Africa, Stone said. “Africa is the new Asia,” Clegg said. “China is establishing manufacturing operations in Africa, and I think U.S. companies would benefit as well. The key for the future for both Africa and the United States is unlocking small and medium enterprise.” Members of World Trade Center Delaware will receive discounts on ABP member events, as part of the relationship between the organizations. The World Trade Center Delaware is a private-sector, nonprofit organization helping Delaware companies to succeed in the international marketplace. With a primary focus on export promotion, the WTC Delaware develops programs to assist businesses and organizations including educational and networking events, market research, and consulting. ### Media Contact: Matt Sullivan, WTCDE communications (302) 354-3306, [email protected]
For immediate release
World Trade Center Delaware joins national network of Africa Business Portal advisors
Word Trade Center Delaware has joined a network of advisors, investors and business leaders inside the Africa Business Portal, an organization devoted to facilitating successful, transparent and long-lasting U.S.- Africa bilateral trade and investment.
“There’s a strong commitment to Africa from the World Trade Center Delaware,” said Lee Clegg, president of the Africa Business Portal. “Delaware is a central place for American business, and the World Trade Center Delaware has services that will make it much easier for businesses in the United States to operate in Africa, and the other way as well.”
The United States is well positioned to increase its reach in Africa aided thanks to the country’s strong product brands, a large and well-educated African diaspora, and a long history of humanitarian support on the continent, Clegg said. Africa Business Portal, based in Phoenix, is a private-sector outreach organization that capitalizes on and links together the most effective U.S. private, public, NGO, and educational resources. World Trade Center Delaware is now one of seven regional partners, alongside offices in Washington D.C., Chicago, Arkansas, Louisiana, Dallas, and Denver.
“Our relationship with ABP will allow us to be more nimble, more flexible, and give World Trade Center Delaware members access to additional sources of information,” said Carla Sydney Stone, executive director of World Trade Center Delaware. “There are possibilities to bring so many resources together under one umbrella to expand trade, knowledge, relationships and cultural understanding.”
Delaware already has significant trade connections with Africa. Fruits from Africa regularly flow through the Port of Wilmington, the nonprofit StartUp Africa is based out of Wilmington, and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, hosts his annual Opportunity: Africa conference in Delaware.
Africa’s extensive natural resources – including minerals, oil and forestry – have made the continent a key resource for fueling global economic growth and stability. But beyond its well-known energy exports, Africa is increasingly known for its highly skilled workforce, as a leader in small-scale solar and mobile technologies, and as a source of plant materials for pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. Delaware businesses in telecommunications, healthcare, higher education and infrastructure will find new markets and business partners in Africa, Stone said.
“Africa is the new Asia,” Clegg said. “China is establishing manufacturing operations in Africa, and I think U.S. companies would benefit as well. The key for the future for both Africa and the United States is unlocking small and medium enterprise.”
Members of World Trade Center Delaware will receive discounts on ABP member events, as part of the relationship between the organizations.
The World Trade Center Delaware is a private-sector, nonprofit organization helping Delaware companies to succeed in the international marketplace. With a primary focus on export promotion, the WTC Delaware develops programs to assist businesses and organizations including educational and networking events, market research, and consulting.
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Media Contact: Matt Sullivan, WTCDE communications (302) 354-3306, [email protected]