What is Trade with Africa all About?

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"...trade with Africa is all about Productivity, Value Addition and Mutually Beneficial Commercial Opportunities..."

Today, I would like to share with you a short clip from one of my key opening messages at a previously held Trade with Africa Business Summit here in Chicago. At Nazaru - as we continue to serve our clients and members in achieving their trade with Africa goals, I also feel the need to explain (again) what we mean when we say "trade with Africa!" especially to those who are just now joining this incredible "movement"... Watch clip below and the transcript is also below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAE_9mJuqgc


Transcript: "...Productivity; If you have got people and you can train them - human capital, that translates to productivity. Africa has all the right things that we do need. But what is the gap? 

In order to develop the economy of a region, you've got to attract investments. Right. But you've got to be producing what the market is going to buy from you; the value addition. So as business people, whether you're in the U.S. or back home in Africa, what do you have to offer? Because if you don't have anything to offer, then it becomes charity; Aid, people helping you. Right. So why is Africa's narrative around people helping you versus what Africa has to offer the world?

So trade with Africa is about that; Commercial opportunities for you and I. It's not about you helping Africa or Africa helping you. It's about mutual opportunities that advances your goals and Africa's goals. So for this platform, our objective is to put Africa's agenda center stage. I believe that the more that we buy from Africa, the more that we sell to Africa.

I believe that the more that we buy from Africa, the more that we sell to Africa.

AGOA - the African Growth and Opportunity Act, is a U.S policy that has sat on the books for 19 years (now 21 years). And what it does - it allows products coming out of Africa into the U.S. market free of duty. Unfortunately, that information has stayed within the political space. So we want to make sure that information moves away from just a political conversation to a business conversation..."

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Toyin Umesiri is CEO of Nazaru LLC., the Founder of the acclaimed Trade with Africa Business Summit, and the Business, Trade and Investment Network (previously Trade with Africa® Network); a fast growing community of Trade experts, Government officials, Policy makers, Investors, Exporters, Service providers, Diaspora leaders and Innovators growing Trade with Africa®.

Contact: info@nazaru.com

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