Program Overview
The U.S.-Africa Business Center (USABC) is a program at The Corporate Council on Africa funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. USABC works to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan African economies, with a focus on small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger corporations. USABC places special emphasis on promoting American investments in Africa’s strategic agricultural value chains. Target countries for USABC include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Unlike other initiatives, USABC identifies both reliable African partners for U.S. firms seeking to market products and services in Africa, as well as U.S. buyers for African firms wishing to sell to the U.S. through AGOA.
The center has the following strategic objectives:
- Establish a one-stop shop for knowledge sharing and technical assistance
- Conduct and disseminate agricultural value chain analysis and identify areas for increased U.S. investment and engagement
- Promote business linkages among U.S. and African companies with a focus on Diaspora and women-owned firms
To achieve these objectives, USABC works with strategic partners, including the Southern Africa Trade Hub, the Africa Trade Office (Maryland), Minority Business Development Agency, the North Dakota Trade Office, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, the Montana World Trade Center and others.
USABC empowers U.S. and African business leaders to become part of a global business network by:
► Increasing opportunities for partnerships between businesses from the United States and
Africa through meeting facilitation
► Exposing businesses to procurement opportunities
► Expanding opportunities for U.S. exports and U.S. investment in sub-Saharan Africa
► Expanding opportunities for companies in sub-Saharan Africa to export to the U.S.
► Instituting a follow-up program through which businesses can continue to develop and strengthen partnerships
