EAC:Americans eye EAC two biggest markets

OPENING UP CHANNELS: Gov. Walker will not be coming, but he has expressed the urgency for Wisconsin to open up.

MWANZA, Tanzania - The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), based in the state of Wisconsin in the United States, is sending a trade delegation to Kenya and Tanzania during May this year.

WEDC is presently inviting Wisconsin companies looking at doing business in the two largest economies in East Africa.

This was prompted by Tanzania’s

Ambassador to the US, Liberata Mulamula who last year (October, 2014) invited Wisconsin business people to Tanzania.

The state of Wisconsin has a population of just under six million, but generates a GDP of $280 billion, double that of the East African Coummunity. It is located in north central US.

The Americans are to take part in a program with potential customers who have been selected based on the export goals and needs of the participating companies.

Trade opportunities in Tanzania and Kenya are available in the transportation, telecommunications, power infrastructure, agriculture, food processing, packaging and food safety.

Opportunities are also in mining, oil, gas extraction and refining equipment, health care equipment and medical devices, hospitality and tourism.

According to a WEDC statement last week, ‘Kenya and Tanzania are East Africa’s two largest economies. Both countries have a favourable business climate; a wide range of resource-based and manufacturing sectors that are expanding to meet the needs of a young, growing population; a strong rule of law; and improving democratic traditions’.

Wisconsin now ranks 18th among the 50 states in exports.  Industrial machinery and agricultural exports rank as Wisconsin’s two largest export categories. With 96% of the world’s population outside the U.S. and one billion people expected to join the global middle class in the next decade, WEDC’s believes Wisconsin businesses should take advantage of these opportunities. around the world to grow.

Ambassador Mulamula told more than 100 traders that there are plenty of opportunities for businesses in Wisconsin and Tanzania to create strong partnerships that will benefit both countries.

She said this in Wisconsin at the opening reception of Marketplace, the Governor’s conference on minority business development. Governor Scot Walker was largely voted into office after laying plans to push the state to higher levels in international business.

In 2012, Wisconsin companies exported just $1.6 million in goods and service to the African country -- about 0.1 percent of all state exports and Ambassador Mulamula said, “We would like to see that increase by 50 percent,” she said. 

By Andrew Zablon, Sunday, February 08th, 2015