West Africa International Business Linkages (WAIBL)

What is WAIBL   How can WAIBL assist your company?       
US-Africa Business Forums     Partners     Contact Info.

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What is WAIBL? West Africa International Business Linkages (WAIBL) is a three-year USAID funded program to increase commercial partnerships between businesses in the U.S. and West Africa. These relationships can take many forms including export/import agreements, joint ventures, and equity partnerships. WAIBL is currently active in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin.

How can WAIBL assist your company:

For American companies:

• Identify trade and investment opportunities in West Africa.
• Assist in the identification of financing, including private and US government programs.
• Screen qualified African companies for business partnerships based on your criteria.
• Steer US companies to key West African government contacts and programs, and other sources of information for doing business in West Africa.

For African companies:

• Identify US partners, suppliers of equipment, technology, or services for West African businesses.
• Assist in the identification of financing, including private and US government programs.
• Screen qualified American companies for business partnerships based on your criteria.
• Direct African companies to key US government and private sector contacts, and other sources of information for doing business with the United States.
  

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U.S.-Africa Business Forums: A key component of the WAIBL program is a series of business forums held in West Africa that bring together African and American business representatives to identify and initiate commercial partnerships.

As a result of the first series of WAIBL forums,CCA member First International Bank (FIB) and the US Export-Import Bank have approved six projects in Ghana and Network Financial Services (NFS) is packaging 25 additional deals in Ghana, Senegal, Mali, and Côte d'Ivoire for consideration by FIB and Ex-Im.

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Partners: WAIBL's partners include: CCA member First International Bank , N.A. of Hartford, Connecticut  (www.firstinterbank.com) and its West African agent Network Financial Services (www.ghanaba.com/nfs/) based in Accra, Ghana and with representatives in 11 West African countries; West African Resources Foundation headquartered in Accra, Ghana; and the West African Enterprise Network (www.waen.net) with members in 13 West African countries.
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Information: Julie Wallace, WAIBL Coordinator () 1100 17th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036    Phone: (202) 835-1115    Fax: (202) 835-1117
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