Nigerian and American entrepreneurs in the United States have met to discuss how to participate in the Nigerian economy and also maximize the approved 50 per cent refund on trade mission expenses by the state of Ohio.
The meeting was held under the auspices of the Nigeria- USA Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), at the Embassy Suites, Columbus, Ohio on the up-coming Trade Mission to Nigeria in collaboration with the US-Commercial Service slated for August.
Addressing investors and entrepreneurs drawn from the SME sector, the Chairman of the chamber, Chuck Nnabuife, harped on the many benefi ts of participating in the trade mission and the advantages of doing business in the buoyant Nigerian economy.
He also used the opportunity to brief interested participants on how to apply, and who benefi ts from the fi fty-percent refund of all qualifi ed Trade Mission expenses under the Ohio Business Grant Fund.
He observed that when it comes to investments, Nigeria is still largely undeveloped which was the reason the chamber decided that it is important to team up those professional Nigerians that live in the United States, with American companies and bring them to Nigeria.
"Our mission therefore is to develop business opportunities, trade and investments whereby we train people, empower them, give them skills to start their own businesses and then provide goods and services as a tool for development," he said.
The Ohio International Market Access Grant for Exporters (IMAGE) is a 50 per cent reimbursement programme designed to offset the costs associated with certain exporting initiatives.
IMAGE is funded by the State of Ohio and the United States Small Business Administration as part of the National Export Initiative to double U.S. exports by 2015.
The purpose of IMAGE is to increase exports and create jobs in Ohio by helping small businesses expand into new international markets.
He stressed that the chamber was still committed to its goal of bringing in about $2 billion worth of investment to Nigeria yearly.
"NUSACC has the support system for Nigerians in Diaspora and Americans who desire to do business in Nigeria to provide them with background and feasibility studies and also relevant fact fi ndings to access the viability of the intended business," he assured investors.
National Mirror