OUR MISSION
The Mission of Africa Network Initiative is to improve the quality of life of people, reduce poverty, mitigate conflicts, economically empower marginalized communities and contribute to the sustainable development of Africa and of the world.
OUR STRATEGY
To fulfill this mission Africa Network Initiative. Inc will strive to make a lasting change by inspiring and promoting youth innovation, build skill capacity, foster entrepreneurship, create partnerships and enhance trade and investment opportunities between The US and Africa.
OUR BELIEF
As agent of change, we believe that business leading to economic empowerment can be a catalyst for peace and social justice
OUR FOCUS
NETWORKING
Africa Network Initiative. Inc will organize annual networking events in Richmond or others cities of the USA. These Annual US-Africa Business Networking & Expo aims to connect African entrepreneurs and their counterparts in the United States.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Africa Network Initiative. INC strives to inspire, engage and promote youth and women innovation, to build and nurture human capacity, to foster entrepreneurship, create partnerships and to enhance trade and investment opportunities between The US and Africa.
TRADE MISSION.
Africa Network Initiative. Inc will organize trade and investment mission in several African countries to provide opportunities to US company to explore new markets and meet new partners or customers and grow their business with the potential to lead to the creation of jobs both in the US and in Africa.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Africa Network Initiative will design a range of initiatives from mentorship , technology skills acquisition and financial education to provide tools for success to the communities that we serve
OUR LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 US-AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM & EXPO”
In partnership with the Center for International Business Advancement ( CIBA), at the School of Business - Virginia Commonwealth University, the 2019 US-Africa Business Networking and Expo had served as a platform for entrepreneurs to hear from U.S and African industry experts on business opportunities in sectors including education, agribusiness, energy, health, infrastructure, mining and finance and to explore new business and investment opportunities. It also served as a venue to meet and network with potential business partners.
The center for international business advancement (CIBA) at VCU’s School of Business supports initiatives aimed at advancing the development and growth of international business. Over the years, CIBA has been involved with programs such as the Africa Business and Entrepreneurship Research Society (ABERS). We are excited this year, to partner with BOSS LLC/ Africa Network Initiative. We are optimistic for this conference because it aims to take the conversation of African business and entrepreneurship partnering with USA counterparts to the next level—providing an opportunity for businesses to collaborate. While the conference will serve as a catalytic event in fostering the said partnerships, it is the hope of CIBA that there is sustainability beyond and that is where we see our role as a support function.
We welcome all the conference participants to Richmond and wish you all success!
SPEAKERS
Senator Mamie E LOCKE. Virginia State Senate – District 2
Prof VAN WOOD. Philip Morris Chair in International Business at the VCU & Director of the Centre for International Business Advancement
John Hansen – Interagency Prosper Africa Secretariat, US Agency for International Development – USAID
KULYA NZOGU. Managing Director, NICOGER Group LLC (Fairfax, Virginia, USA).
Mr Joshua Kaplan – International Trade Specialist, US Commercial Services. (Richmond, Virginia, USA).
Reverend Jonathan Weaver – Senior Pastor, Mt. NEBO AME Church & President & Founder, The Pan-African Collective (Bowie, Maryland, USA).
Ms. Lindsey Bertozzi
Assistant Vice President for International Trade, The Virginia Economic Development Partnership – VEDP
Mulongo Simuzingili – PhD Candidate; Economist/Health Policy Analyst; 2019 APPAM Equity and Inclusion Fellow. Virginia Commonwealth University
Sombo Chunda.PhD Student & Graduate Teaching Assistant, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University
Ms. Tanya .N. Jefferson, CEO, Transnational Imports and Exports LLC (Richmond, Virginia, USA)
Ms Verniece Love – Director of SWaM (Small Women-owned and Minority-owned) Certification, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
Prof. Tina Abrefa-Gyan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University(Norfolk, Virginia, USA)
Bismark Agbemble. CEO PLUGIN
Paul Pumphreh. Co-owner. SPAGnVOLA Chocolatatier. Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD USA
Ms. Elizabeth Thomas – Business Development Specialist, US Export Import Bank – EXIM Bank (Washington, DC, USA).
Agri-Business Connections Opportunities.
Working in junction with a network of partners, Africa Network Initiative is linking Africans farmers with potential organizations willing to provide assistance to qualified smallholders and commercial farmers. The assistance is only provided for farmers who are legally registered, have been in operation for at least three years and want to add value to their crops or to expand their operations. Legally registered cooperative are encouraged.
Our partners
