US-Africa Business Summit
June 13-16, 2017
Washington, D. C.
Participant Application
Deadline : May 24, 2017
Introduction: Africa is home to 6 of the top 10 fastest growing in the world and U.S. exports to subSaharan Africa now top $21 billion a year. (US Census Bureau, 2016). However, not a single country in
Africa is among Delaware’s top 25 export destinations. 1
In June, Delaware companies will have a unique opportunity to change this situation.
The World Trade Center Delaware will provide support to Delaware companies participating in the
US-Africa Business Summit from 13-16 June, 2017 in Washington, DC and Delaware. The US-Africa
Business Summit is an international event featuring high level government officials and business leaders
from the 54 African countries continent and the United States. It is sponsored by the Corporate Council
on Africa.
The purpose of the US -Africa Business Summit is to provide a forum for government, and industry
leaders with purchasing authority from among the 54 African countries to the United States to engage in
international business, diplomacy and development efforts by US companies. Thus, companies will be
able to gain important exposure for their goods and services to decision-makers across the African
continent at a much lower cost than they would incur by traveling to each individual country in Africa.
In addition to taking Delaware companies to the Summit in Washington, the World Trade Center
Delaware will bring selected officials and company executives to Delaware on June 12 for site visits to
build stronger relationships between the Delaware and Africa and help the Africans to increase their
understanding of these companies, their products and services. The goal is for Delaware companies to
increase sales to Africa while decreasing the cost of marketing.
Background: Founded in 1987, the World Trade Center Delaware is a not for profit organization that
helps small and medium-sized businesses to engage in international product and service delivery. We
identify market opportunities that enable our members to respond to a wide variety of sectors,
including government, private industry, nongovernmental organizations, as well as multilateral aid
funders. We also conduct readiness assessments that help our clients determine their ability to engage
in international trade and prepare to do so. Through business roundtables, seminars, and one-on-one
consulting, we equip companies with the knowledge and connections they need to expand in the global
marketplace.
1
State Trade Data, State Trade by Commodity and Country, Exports and Imports,
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/state/data/de.html, Retrieved, January 3, 2017
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802 N. West Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.wtcde.com
302-656-7905
As a member of the World Trade Centers Association, we are able to provide resources in more than 90
countries, supported by 15,000 WTC professionals in over 320 WTCA member centers that deliver
integrated, reciprocal resources around the world. This results in our members and clients being able to
deliver higher quality, location and culturally specific goods, services and technical assistance, while
saving time and money for all.
“Corporate Council on Africa is the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting
business interests in Africa. Established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the
United States and the nations of Africa, the Corporate Council on Africa serves as a neutral, trusted
intermediary connecting its member firms with the essential government and business leaders they
need to do business and succeed in Africa. The Council’s membership represents nearly 85 percent of
total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. They represent a diverse pool of industries from Africa's
most promising sectors, including agribusiness, energy, finance, health, ICT, infrastructure, security,
tourism and trade facilitation. Corporate Council on Africa is a key resource for conducting successful
business in Africa. We work closely with governments, multilateral groups and businesses to improve
Africa’s trade and investment climate and to raise the profile of Africa in the U.S. business community.
Most importantly, we work with our member companies to help them increase their investment in and
trade with the nations of Africa. CCA provides member companies with greater access, connections and
insight for doing business between the United States and Africa through a number of sector- and
country-specific working groups, high-level special events, business conferences, customized member
services, trade missions and advocacy programs”2 The Corporate Council on Africa CCA is the home of
two programs funded by The U.S. Agency for International Development: The U.S.-Africa Business
Center and Southern Africa Trade Hub.
Statement of Need: The World Trade Center has identified countries within the continent of Africa as
prime markets for products and services delivered by Delaware companies. No other funding assistance
for Delaware companies to attend international trade fairs held in the US is offered by the State of
Delaware. The US-Africa Business Summit to be held in Washington D. C. from June 13 to 16 with an
additional day of visits by African leaders to Delaware provides a cost-effective, and efficient venue for
Delaware companies to reach heretofore, untapped markets.
Africa is the world’s second largest continent with a population of over a billion people. The continent
includes every type of geography and climate from small lush or barren tropical islands to snow covered
mountain ranges to harsh deserts with little or no vegetation. The people of Africa are equally diverse
with thousands of cultures existing on the continent. It is estimated that some 1,500-2,000 languages
are spoken in Africa3; many countries have several national languages. Differences in culture,
governance, and trade practices, and distance and language barriers mean that it can be difficult for
Delaware companies to identify the best potential markets for their goods and services within Africa.
The lack of specific information about individual markets is hard to find and companies may forgo
opportunities simply because they do not know how to get this information. Most importantly, the
company may not want to spend the money or time it requires to explore a market, exhibit at a foreign
2
3
http://www.corporatecouncilonafrica.com/about, Retrieved January 8, 2017
Nationsonline.org, 2017, Retrieved, January 4, 2017
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802 N. West Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.wtcde.com
302-656-7905
international trade fair, and build a relationship with a potential customer overseas if one is located
nearby.
Although the continent of Africa is facing a decline in the overall growth rate to 1.6% for 2016 4 resulting
in a decline in the GDP per capita in real terms for this year, many of the 54 countries within Africa are
experiencing, and expect to continue enjoying a robust growth rate. For example, Ethiopia, Rwanda,
and Tanzania all have growth rates over 6%. Those countries with the lowest growth rates tend to be
those dependent on falling commodity prices with large percentages of their output concentrated in the
petroleum and mining sectors and less stable institutional infrastructure such as governance, monetary
and economic policy. However, prices are expected to rebound modestly in 2017 and by 2018, the
growth rate throughout Sub Sahara Africa is expected to be 3.6%5. Those countries that exhibited
strength were those with more diverse economies. However, even countries dependent on a few
extractive resources still are potential markets for Delaware companies.
The US & Foreign Commercial Service will be assisting companies at only two trade fairs on the African
contentment for 2017 6, NAMPO HARVEST Day 2017 in South Africa (Agriculture and water sectors) and
Offshore West Africa in Lagos, Nigeria (Oil and gas production and processing). These two events do not
begin to cover the diversity of products and services offered by Delaware companies.
Objectives: The last US-Africa Business Summit, held in the United States in 2013 was attended by over
1,000 government and industry leaders from 70 countries and last year’s in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
attracted 1,400 participants.7 Attendance at the US-Africa Summit in nearby Washington DC as part of a
World Trade Center Delaware organized program has several benefits for Delaware companies:
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Significant cost savings for travel (close-by) and exhibiting due to special exhibit booth rates;
Higher impact as part of a unified message from Delaware companies;
High level, qualified participants from government and industry;
Matchmaking sessions and presentation opportunities organized by Summit sponsor in
“solutions and innovations sessions”;
Opportunity to introduce company to potential partners/collaborators as well as buyers;
Educational opportunities;
Develop personal relationships with potential partners in countries of interest;
Gather competitor information.
4
“World Bank Group. 2016. Africa's Pulse, No. 14, October 2016. World Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/25097 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”, Retrieved January 4, 2017
5
Ibid.
6
http://2016.export.gov/eac/show_short_trade_events.asp?CountryName=null&StateName=null&IndustryName=n
ull&TypeName=International%20Trade%20Fair&StartDate=null&EndDate=null, Retrieved January 8, 2017
7
http://allafrica.com/infocenter/AfricaBizSummit_2016/, Retrieved, January 8, 2017
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802 N. West Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.wtcde.com
302-656-7905
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Eligibility. Delaware companies are eligible to apply to participate in the World Trade Center
Delaware US-Africa Business Summit program. Up to Five companies will be selected to participate.
Application. Delaware businesses must apply to the World Trade Center Delaware to participate in
the WTC Delaware booth at the Summit. Application will include completed form and application
fee of $100.00. If selected, the application fee will be applied to the total matching cost
requirement for the company.
Deadline. May 24, 2017
Email to: [email protected]
Fund disbursement. World Trade Center Delaware will disburse funds to Corporate Council on
Africa and selected companies with presentation of invoice.
Participating companies are supported up to one -half of costs associated with exhibiting at the USAfrica Business Summit up to a total of $5,000, whichever is less. Costs to be supported include:
Lodging at GSA CONUS rates (must be preapproved)
Parking
Train or car mileage at IRS approved rates
Trade show registration fees
Trade show booth space
Stipends for website translations into foreign languages (up to $3,000)
Meeting space audio/visual (must be preapproved)
Pre-Summit travel to Corporate Council on Africa, other organization training and
workshops (must be pre-approved)
o Hosting of visits by African delegates/government/industry leaders prior or after
Summit ( must be pre-approved)
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802 N. West Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.wtcde.com
302-656-7905