Africa Trade Ministers to Meet U.S. Business Executives Next Week

The Whitaker Group in Action?

Africa Trade Ministers to Meet U.S. Business Executives Next Week
The Nation (Nairobi)
Via allAfrica
April 12, 2007

Kenya is amongst seven African countries whose trade ministers will meet US West Coast business chiefs next week.

A statement released yesterday, said the African ministers would meet executives from aircraft-maker Boeing, Starbucks, Barclay's, GAP, Nexant, Levi's and the port of Seattle.

"Its purpose is to foster crucial relationship building between African delegates and business leaders.

"It will also serve to help re-brand African nations as progressive emerging markets that are presenting the global business community with exciting new trade and investment opportunities," said the release.

Besides meeting top executives from the US corporates, the group would visit Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the editorial board of Seattle Times. They will participate in a panel discussion on the African Growth and Opportunity Act - a duty-free export arrangement with the US, which is swiftly unravelling under assault from cheaper Asian exports - and the stalled Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks.

In the group

The tour takes place between April 15 to 20 and is arranged by Whitaker Group and the US Chamber of Commerce. Also in the group are ministers from Ghana, Botswana, Burundi, Lesotho, Mauritius and Uganda.

"This is the first time such a large and high level African ministerial Trade and Industry delegation will travel to the West Coast.

Traditionally, Africa has concentrated on such cities as New York, Atlanta and Washington DC," said the organizers.