The Prince George’s County Africa Trade Office officially opened Thursday with County Executive Jack Johnson praising the role it will play in “hooking up” county businesses with entrepreneurs in Africa and fighting terrorism.
“When I was in Senegal, I went to a particular town where it was great to see young children that were very excited. … They were waving American flags and had the day off from school,” Johnson said to the various African dignitaries, elected officials and county business leaders who gathered for the ribbing cutting.
“It’s this kind of activity that will help us deal with terrorism. … We will show that we come as sisters and brothers … to build the institutions that empower people to be the best they can be,” Johnson said.
The trade office, which has been in planning stages for the last six months after the county received a $400,000 federal grant sponsored by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., will provide classes for area business owners on how to become importers and exporters.
The staff will provide the connections needed in the mostly western African nations that the office has already built relationships with.
For example, Johnson said, the ambassador of Senegal will have a number of people available who know the cultures of both countries and will “hook you up.”
Johnson said Prince George’s County is ripe for trade with Africa because “it has the largest population of people who have been born in Africa.”
The office, Cardin said, will serve as an example for other counties in the country to follow.
“There’s no other office like this anywhere in the country,” Cardin said. “It’s a unique setup and I believe it will be copied by other counties.”
The office opens at a time when county employees are facing forced furloughs and Prince George’s has registered thousands of foreclosures, the most in the Maryland.
But, Cardin said, “we have to rebuild our economy and we start by giving small businesses the opportunity for job growth. This Africa trade office will create jobs in our community.”
