African-American Maryland Lt. Governor Going from America to Africa

Lt. Governor Steele, Maryland Businesses Depart for 10-Day Trade Mission to Ghana and South Africa

Meetings with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, High-Level African Leaders Highlight Trip

Annapolis, MD – Continuing to build on Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.’s vision of internationalizing Maryland and bringing economic development to the State, Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele will depart tonight for a 10-day trade mission to Ghana and South Africa. Lt. Governor Steele flanked by several of the nearly 30 Maryland businesses and educational institutions that are part of the delegation, announced details of the mission during a send off in the Governor’s Reception Room at the State House in Annapolis. This trip marks Lt. Governor Steele’s third overseas economic development mission, following trips to the Paris Air Show and Barbados last year. The group, which also includes several members of the Governor Ehrlich’s, Lt. Governor Steele’s and Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development’s staff, will return to Maryland on Friday, June 25, 2004.

“Maryland recognizes that Africa is an important economic driver in the world and we feel that this mission will provide a golden opportunity to pursue trade and joint ventures between Maryland and African companies and educational institutions,” said Lt. Governor Steele. “We have a number of companies in our delegation that already have strong ties to the region and many others that are looking to establish relationships. As more opportunities for trade open up, this mission will build a bridge for Maryland companies to this very important region of the world.”

The focus of the mission is to tap into commercial opportunities for Maryland companies. Continuing market liberalization and privatization in Ghana and South Africa, bolstered by U.S.-sponsored trade legislation, will stimulate new trade opportunities for Maryland companies.

Highlights of Lt. Governor Steele’s itinerary include (a complete itinerary is attached):

·        Meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

·        Meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki’s Cabinet members, including the Honorable Mosiuoa Lekota, Minister of Defense.

·        Visit gravesite of W.E.B. DuBois, one of the most influential black leaders during the first half of the 20th century and co-founder of the NAACP.

·        Visit and wreath laying at St. George’s Castle and Cape Coast Castle, two slave castles where hundreds of African slaves were housed before being shipped to America.

·        Meeting with high-level Ghanaian leaders, including Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghanaian Parliamentary leaders, Ghanaian Minister of Roads and Transport and Ghana Airways Board members.

·        Visit to Catholic Relief Services project at Freedom Park settlement.

·        Meetings with Bafokeng at the Royal Bafokeng Palace. The Bafokeng, meaning “people of the dew,” are a 350,000 strong nation who live on land that is one of the world’s largest producers of platinum.

·        Visit to Discovery Channel Global Education Fund project in Alexandra township. During Lt. Governor Steele’s visit, the teachers at Gordon Primary School will demonstrate how the use of television and video in the classroom is positively impacting students' learning.

·        Meeting with ambassadors, commercial officers and businesses representing the Southern African Development Community, which include Angola, Mozambique, Botswana and Mauritius, among others.

·        Participating businesses will receive a number of benefits as a result of participating in the delegation, including meetings with high-level business and government contacts, pre-screened business appointments with potential clients or partners and invitations to business networking events. A complete list of the participating firms and Lt. Governor Steele’s itinerary is attached.