Under Secretary Lago Concludes Multi-Country Africa Trade Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
Email: publicaffairs@trade.gov
Phone: 202-482-3809

LAGOS, Nigeria – Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago today completed a U.S. Department of Commerce Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. 

From August 6-15, Under Secretary Lago led a delegation of African diaspora-owned and veteran-owned U.S. companies from traditionally underserved communities in the United States. They visited South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria with the goal of connecting with both potential vendors and business partners in these dynamic African markets. 

From August 13-15, Under Secretary Lago met with several private sector stakeholders around Lagos, focusing on the city’s innovative sectors. In meetings with representatives from some of the largest U.S. digital companies in Nigeria, she discussed how bilateral trade could accelerate both the country’s digital infrastructure rollout and electric vehicle implementation. Under Secretary Lago also led discussions with the female entrepreneurial community in Nigeria and Lagos State on how U.S. businesses can work to assist thriving female businesses in these geographies. 

She also visited the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)-LUTH Cancer Center at Lagos University Teaching Hospital to learn about how the NSIA is prioritizing its sovereign investments in healthcare and to explore opportunities for bilateral public-private collaboration. 

This was the second time in three months that Under Secretary Lago has visited Nigeria. In May 2023, she traveled to Abuja as a member of the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the inauguration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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