The Africa Trade Office

Prince Georges County Economic Development Corporation

Serving Companies in the United States and on the African Continent

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

Background
 Established in March of 2008.  Established with the assistance of U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin and the support of Prince Georges County, Maryland Executive Jack Johnson to meet the needs of Maryland businesses as they engage African trading partners to complete mutually beneficial trade deals benefiting both economies.  Initial funding for The Africa Trade Office came through federal grants.
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Objectives
 Expand trade between SMEs in the County, State of Maryland and throughout the U.S. and certain countries in Africa;  Offer specialized training;  One-on-one counseling;  Evaluation of business needs and business assistance support to determine capital requirements;  Deal development through hand-held support followed by trade mission(s).
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Objectives
 Develop database of vetted opportunities for U.S.

and African companies interested in investments.

 Improve capacity of African SMEs to export and to become

viable partners.

 Increase the number of partnering agreements between The

Africa Trade Office and U.S. government agencies, State agencies and NGOs to establish mentoring and sub-contract procurement ops for SMEs; Direct Investment into Maryland from Africa;

 Expand exports from Maryland to Africa and increase Foreign  Create new U.S. jobs and taxes.
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Key Markets
            

Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Cameroon Cape Verde Cote dIvoire Ethiopia Ghana Gambia Kenya Lesotho Liberia
Commerce for the New Millennium

            

Madagascar Mali Malawi Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia

Commerce for the New Millennium

Services to approx 1 ,000 quality companies

 Business to business match making  Education  Outreach  Trade  Investment  Risk Mitigation  Digital Video Conferencing  Trade Missions  Hosting of Foreign Delegations

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

Significant Partnerships
           

Office of the County Executive US Small Business Administration US Commercial Service Blacks in Government Africa Secretariat Law Offices of Alexander and Cleaver Associates African Investment Corporation The Corporate Counsel on Africa Leon H. Sullivan Foundation Office of The US Trade Representative USDA/ Agricultural Research Service Various Embassies Overseas Chambers and business organizations

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

Agribusiness Workshops
 Food Security and Commodity Markets
     

Infrastructure Investments to Connect Markets Technology For Improving Productivity Ag-Bio and Increasing Demand Food Products and Niche Markets Bio-Fuel Investments U.S. Ag-Import Compliance

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

EXPORT ONE: AFRICA! Model

Phase II Coaching Firms To Close Deals; Prepare for Mission

Phase I 7-session course

Phase III Trade Mission Closure of Deals

Intl Marketing Plan & Initiate One Trade Deal

Move to Close Trade Deals by Close Trade Deal in US or Applying Range On Trade Mission of Services
Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

ATO Success Stories

 The ATO Facilitated trade deals valued at US$150M and investments of over US$73M in its first 3 years of services. The success stories outlined below were obtained with the assistance of the ATO.


A local construction company was placed on the MCC short list of construction management companies for various MCC projects. A local construction company won a large contract to renovate the main international airport and runway in Ghana. A company exports Mack trucks to Nigeria. A company exports on-line US magazines and publications to Nigerian retailers.
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ATO Success Stories



US buyers of Tanzanian arts/crafts and Gambian cosmetics were identified. A client exports medical and cleaning supplies to Tanzania. A client acquired a $500k line of credit. An entrepreneur exports education consulting services to Gambia. A successful construction company is establishing a subsidiary in Ghana from the extensive business support of the ATO.

The ATO hosted numerous prominent officials ranging from a sitting President, Governors, Members of Parliament, Ministers, Ambassadors and other government officials.

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium

Conclusion

Thank You !
Elizabeth Crittenden International Business Development Specialist Prince Georges County Economic Development Corporation/Africa Trade Office ecrittenden@pgcedc.com 301-583-4615

Commerce for the New Millennium

Commerce for the New Millennium