Own Correspondent
WINDHOEK, Namibia – Sub Saharan Africa’s infrastructure development expert and business guru, Dr Tinashe Manzungu has emphasised the need for designing of policies that promote trade relations between the United States of America and Africa.
In a statement prior to his attendance of the Association of Private Business Owners (ASSPRO) Conference on Supply Chain Management and Sustainability in the United States of America scheduled in June, Manzungu said over the past decade the trade between the two parties had registered little growth which despite great potential.
“As Africans among other continents will be exploring trade and business opportunities at the upcoming US International Conference on Trade and Entrepreneurship, it is key to note the essence of new policy formulations which promote the trade and entrepreneurship between the two parties,” said Manzungu.
“Gone are the days when the economic engagement between Africa and US has been known primarily in the context of providing aid and the issue of the extraction of mineral resources. We are in an era where they are more open doors for trade and economic activities between the two parties, and we have to make the best we can make in this era.
“My invite to the upcoming US International Conference on Trade and Entrepreneurship gives me a platform to explore more trade relations between Africa and the US. I am attending the conference wearing many hats including my background as a COMESA Board Member; a representative of the African Business Council and Group CEO and Co-Founder of ZimBuild.”
He said he was looking forward to several discussions during the conference as well as exploring possible deliveries from the Africa to US and vis versa. He added that the trade between the two parties had been anchored mainly on natural resources and agricultural products, however more can be discovered.
Manzungu added, “At this conference, the theme goes to address the issues of supplier change management and this is a very critical nap corner when it comes to where the world is going because you find that America definitely needs Africa when it comes to resources and at the same time, America is the big brother of the world, they are financial giants when it comes to financial representation”.
“You will then find out that Africa needs America when it comes to the issue of financial muscle, therefore the exchanges between the two – resources and finance – is something that should marry us.”
The Association of Private Business Owners (ASSPRO) Conference on Supply Chain Management and Sustainability is scheduled from 5 to 8 June in Tallahassee, Florida.
