April 19, 1999
FORUM: Africa, state can gain by partnership

By Toni Harp
Source: New Haven Register

The state of Connecticut is about to take a huge step in its relations with the people of Africa. Gov. John G. Rowland is building upon 1997 legislation that strongly encourages bilateral trade between Connecticut and Africa.

The state of Connecticut will be hosting the "Africa Business Conference" Tuesday and Wednesday. It will bring together state business leaders, African dignitaries, senior United Nations officials, educators and others to focus on relationship building and bilateral trade opportunities.

The Connecticut Legislative Black & Puerto Rican Caucus is proud to have sponsored the legislation, and prouder still to take part in this ground breaking event. The conference will surely increase communications and links between Connecticut and sub-Sahara Africa, and is unique in its bilateral mandate. That means partnership, not simply a "quick sale" for our companies to African consumers. This is not an exercise in fast deals, but part of a commitment by this state to strengthen relations with Africa's peoples, histories and cultures.

Many within Connecticut have long-standing ties with the countries of Africa. Some have immigrated and maintain communications with their families. Some traveled as students and faculty on exchange programs. Others have conducted business and worked in those overseas markets for many years.

The University of Connecticut recently signed an agreement with Nelson Mandela's African National Congress of South Africa, authorizing the university to house the ANC's massive archives. But the agreement is much more than that. It provides a model of the sorts of relationships that bring growth and pride to both Connecticut and its African partner. Not only will the University of Connecticut be assisting in collecting archival records from around the world that are invaluable to historical scholarship, the university will also be involved in skills transfer, technical training, scholarly exchange and direct student participation from both Connecticut and South Africa in a massive oral history project.

And, of course, there are business opportunities, especially for small and medium-sized companies. The continent is rife with infrastructure projects, an explosion in telecommunications, world-class manufacturing, and, increasingly, high-tech applications. Not only are they interested in what we have to offer, but companies here may very well be surprised at some of the proprietary technologies that have been developed and marketed by African firms.

The spread of democracy has also brought massive privatizations of state-controlled assets, especially those so poorly administered by the apartheid government of South Africa prior to April 1994.

Indeed, Nelson Mandela recently delivered his last speech to Parliament, marking a complete transition to a new, non-racial democracy some thought would never happen. With this transition, sub-Sahara Africa is poised for a new era of growth and expansion.

While some in the United States shrug their shoulders and maintain their negative stereotypes of "the Dark Continent," our global competitors have been stepping into the void and signing joint ventures left and right. The investment dollars are pouring in from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Singapore, as well as from our direct competitors in the European Union.

But Connecticut is engaging, not standing on the sidelines. With a high-profile conference, with long-term institutional agreements, with our curiosity and desire to expand, this state is set to accompany the people of Africa into what Thabo Mbeki, who will likely be elected president of South Africa in a few weeks, calls a "renaissance." It is an opportunity in which we may all partake.

Sen. Toni Harp, D-New Haven, represents the 10th District in the state Senate. Readers may write her at Room 3000, Legislative Office Building, Hartford 06106.