Madison International Trade Association
Fluno Center 601 University Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53715
press release: Africa - the Next Emerging Market
Africa is a continent of over 1 billion people, and includes many of the fastest growing economies on earth. It is estimated that investors in the emerging markets are deploying nearly 10% of their portfolio funds in African countries. The youthful entrepreneurial African middle class is growing significantly, allowing for many opportunities across a range of consumer, industrial and resource sectors. Sectors such as agricultural machinery and technology, aviation, healthcare devices and consumables, food processing, mining and construction equipment, infrastructure, manufacturing machinery, and technology in the chemical and petroleum sectors have high potential across Africa’s quickly growing economies.
Join MITA and learn from experts on how to obtain market intelligence, locate business partners and buyers across Africa and establish business networks in this quickly changing global market region representing 15% of the global population, reaching 2.5 billion (27%) by 2050.
SPEAKERS:
Richard Zurba, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's Trade Representative for Africa, has over two decades of personal experience in business development in emerging markets. Richard came to Africa in 1993 first in the D.R. Congo for World Vision Relief, involved in humanitarian work related to ethnic cleansing and Ebola outbreak responses. In 1996 he moved to South Africa, as an export manager for a South African firm, selling across sub-Saharan Africa. In January 1999, he opened the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers Africa Trade Office, representing the State of Wisconsin and other states. He serves as the Coordinator of the IBG Global, a network of international business consultants working in 100 countries around the globe.
R. Michael Webb, Founder and CEO of U-Fuel, started providing self-service fuel at airports and for the general public in 1987. The first U-Fuel Facility was located at Austin Straubel Air Field in Green Bay. He then formed Oshkosh Aero, at Wittman Field in Oshkosh building hangers, offices and fuel systems. Oshkosh Aero serviced the airlines, provided aircraft maintenance, flight training and general aviation services as a major vendor for the world’s largest annual general aviation event. Starting in 1996, U-Fuel expanded internationally with a joint venture in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, moving on to China, Mexico, and in 2011 into Nigeria. In 2015, U-Fuel established its African Headquarters in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to construct, own and operate convenience stores in rural parts of that country. U-Fuel became a U.S. Defense Contractor in 2016, installing patented Drone Fueling systems in Saudi Arabia and Niger.
AGENDA:
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM –Registration and Networking
12:00 PM – 12:30 AM - Lunch and Opening Remarks
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM - Presentations
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Q & A Session and Closing Remarks
Cost: Early Bird rate applies until April 5- $35 Members / $50 for Non-Members
Regular rate - $45 for Members, $60 for Non-Members thereafter.