The Biden led administration has assured Nigerian tech communities of its support to secure investors for their tech products, adding that a two way market structure has been created.
Explaining the initiative during a digital press briefing with Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Chargé d’Affaires David Greene, U.S. Mission to Nigeria.
Both of them explained during their opening remarks that The Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI), Trade Mission to Africa aims to foster economic connections between businesses from underrepresented communities in the United States and business communities in South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria.
This initiative is geared towards providing participating enterprises with valuable market insights, establishing industry connections, refining business strategies, and progressing specific projects—all with the overarching objective of boosting U.S. exports.
Through participation in an official U.S. industry delegation, rather than individual travel, American companies can enhance their capacity to secure meetings and garner increased visibility within these markets.
“These companies are active in a wide range of sectors, starting with the information and communications technology centre, cyber security, and electric vehicles. Energy trade facilitation and consumer goods”
“While these US companies have been on this trade mission in Africa, the commerce department has arranged for them a robust series of tailor matchmaking opportunities with potential business owners -partners in these three countries. We have also introduced them to the decision makers in south Africa Ghana, and Nigeria”
The Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade describes her experience attending a Tech summit organised by The Microsoft Garage. The Microsoft Garage is an innovative initiative by Microsoft that empowers its employees to pursue projects they are passionate about, even if these projects do not directly align with their primary roles within the company.
This programme offers the opportunity for participation to Microsoft employees from various divisions, fostering engagement in small-scale innovation projects and activities with a global reach. The initiative spans across multiple locations, including the main campus in Redmond, Washington, as well as several others worldwide.
“I participated in an incredibly lively Hack-a-thon that was hosted by Microsoft Garage. where we were focused on how to grow and promote the development of the electric vehicle industry in Nigeria ..focus on the digital economy.
I heard directly from my government counterparts and the private sector on the opportunities and challenges in the digital sector and these conversations with African partners are already going to remain critical to advancing progress under the US Digital Transformation with Africa or DTA”
During the U.S.-Africa Business Forum held on December 14 in Washington, DC, as a component of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, President Biden introduced a fresh initiative called the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA).
Representing a cornerstone effort of the Biden-Harris Administration, the DTA initiative aims to broaden digital accessibility and proficiency, while enhancing the digital enabling landscapes across the African continent.
This initiative intends to present a digital landscape of Africa that has substantial potential to drive economic revival, foster opportunities, propel social and gender equality, and generate employment. This transformation has elevated productivity, competitiveness, and the efficacy of e-government service delivery.
The US secretary describes Nigeria as “Africa’s largest democratic population and economy and we really believe that Nigeria’s economic growth will bring stability and prosperity not only for the Nigerian people but, also across west Africa, through cross border expansion and economically great integration quitting under the African continent or free trade area.“
During the briefing, GOVIMA asked how the US government can invest more in Nigeria’s youth in a growing economy and what major partnerships can be done to leverage young people in Nigeria and build a major tech community in Nigeria.
“In the three countries that we visited on this trade mission, tech was very much front of mind .It is such a broad field; it ranges from Clean Energy tech, Agrotech, health tech , Fintech ,…. you are correct that no one country has a lock on it.
You also know that when people think of tech in the United States, it’s way too easy to think of just Silicon Valley, Houston and New York City.
That is not the reality; we have tech hubs, vibes tech hubs across the United States.
When people talk about the digital future,I think it’s important to realise that yes it’s the future, but it’s here right now. The opportunities are here right now
