New York City District Export Council initiative - 'Doing Business in Africa' program - On DEC

Business America, August 23, 1993

The New York City District Export Council (NYC DEC), in conjunction with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) New York District Office, has launched a four-phased "Doing Business in Africa" initiative. "Africa is an accessible and open market and now is the time to get in on the ground floor because American investors, products, and services are very much in demand," emphasizes NYC DEC Executive Secretary Joel Barkan.

To kick-off the NYC DEC focus on Africa, Catherine Houghton, Senior Commercial Officer in Abidjan and U.S. Department of Commerce liaison to the African Development Bank, addressed the NYC DEC members in May. Houghton stressed rapidly changing political and economic developments in Africa will provide enormous opportunities for U.S. business in the future. She emphasized that contacting the African Development Bank, which is the primary financial institution on the African continent, is an excellent first step for American companies examining business opportunities in Africa. "U.S. firms that use the programs of the African Development Bank can be certain that they will be paid. Companies often find that business ventures in Africa can be both pleasant and rewarding," Houghton observed. Houghton and her staff at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan are always ready to assist U.S. exporters. "We're only a fax transmission away," Houghton said.

The second phase of "Doing Business in Africa" consisted of hosting two large African foreign buyer delegations from Cameroon and Cote D'Ivoire visiting New York. The NYC DEC, the New York District Office, and key partners worked together to arrange business meetings between target New York businesses and the delegation.

A highlight of the mission was a delegation visit to the Harlem International Trade Center. Abidjan Foreign Commercial Officer Rowena Niava, who led the Cote D'Ivoire delegation, met with and addressed key officials of the Harlem International Trade Center to brief them on African Development Bank programs. Niava encouraged the group to come and do business in Africa. "We have a continuous flow of European business visitors in Africa, but we rarely see American firms representing all the wonderful high-quality products that you are known for," she stated.

The third phase is developing a partnership with the Harlem International Trade Center. The Center, a unique institution in the New York business community, is receiving assistance from the NYC DEC to enhance and promote trade relations with emerging nations of the world. The NYC DEC is supporting the Center's plan to construct a world-class trade center in upper Manhattan that will facilitate trade with Africa and the Caribbean. Niava met with Gene A. Norman, New York DEC member and president of the Harlem International Trade Center, to discuss a proposed spring 1994 trade mission to Africa.

For the fourth phase of the initiative, a "Doing Business with Africa" seminar is planned in early December at the World Trade Institute at the World Trade Center in New York City. "Our DEC takes special pride in establishing a vital economic beach-head in Africa," stated NYC DEC Chairman Herbert Ouida. "Africa will be an essential market for the United States by the turn of the century. The New York business community--through the NYC DEC--now has a forum to begin developing business links with Africa," Ouida concluded.

For more information on the seminar and delegation, contact the New York District Office at tel. (212) 264-0600.