Our trip to Equatorial Guinea was a success! First, we want to thank the Sullivan Foundation for inviting nine of us to join them for their IX Summit.  Once we were settled into the beautiful Sofitel Hotel Sipopo we began to network with government officials, the Chamber of Commerce of Equatorial Guinea and fellow entrepreneurs.  What was presented to us was the most convincing proposition we have experienced on the Continent of Africa.

There are numerous contracts to be let in the nation during the next two years.  The government seeks to have appreciable Black participation on these contracts (30 – 40%).  The local businesses do not have that capacity and the nation is serious about African American firms forming joint ventures in order to meet the capacity demands.  This is a fantastic opportunity!  We have begun a formal matchmaking process.  A few deals are already in the process.

Also, we met the South African Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.  He, too, is seeking joint ventures between South African entrepreneurs and their African American counterparts. In all, we left the nation with plans to take advantage of opportunities in Chad, Gabon, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe.

All business sectors will have opportunities.  There is major oil and gas activity.  The nation will build two new cities from “scratch” and that will include major infrastructure, housing, energy, etc.  E.G. is replete with diamonds, gold, precious metals and lumber.  The soil is very rich and great for agribusiness.  It is our intent to produce a noticeable number of executed contracts by the opening of our PanAfrican Entrepreneurs Conference in Houston, TX during November 15 – 18, 2012.  There will be a contingent of Equatorial Guinea entrepreneurs participating at the conference as well as entrepreneurs from other nations within the Diaspora.  We will be organized to match our interested entrepreneurs with those from abroad.  Also, we will be directing these businesses to specific opportunities.

The economy is moving slow and the opportunities at our federal, state and local venues are shrinking.  Dealing with major corporations is anemic for the Black entrepreneur.  African nations are exploding with the highest GDP’s in the world.  China, India, Europe, Brazil and everywhere else but America seems to realize that.  It is time for us to return “home” in the fashion of Joseph and seize our destiny.  Let us go to the GROWTH and joint venture with our counterparts.  Equatorial Guinea is ground zero.  There is no time to waste.

Those of you who are interested, in fact, committed to doing business on the African continent should contact me through email.  I will need your contact information and the North American Industrial Codes (NAIC) that you cover.  From there we will begin to match you up.  Let’s do it!