Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, delivering his address immediately after I led the delegates in a moment of prayer,  applauded the start of the Pan Africa Trade and Investment Summit at the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute with prayer.    Pawlenty re-echoed the centrality and significance of faith and values in American business enterprise and public leadership and discourse.   

While showing due respect to all other faiths represented at the summit, I prayed and asked Jesus Christ to bless our efforts of networking American investors with African trade and investment opportunities.   Among participants at the summit were representatives of various U.N. agencies, several Ambassadors and consul generals of different African nations, representatives of the Federal government in Washington DC, Minnesota business leaders, and members of the African business community in Minnesota. 

Sighting as example a former American President who would start crucial meetings by observing a moment of prayer, the governor acknowledged our dependence on God for blessing in our business enterprises and underscored the role of faith in American discourse and business enterprise. 

 In his keynote address, Cargill Executive and SWIM advisory board member Dan Dye emphasized values-driven trade and investment transactions as underguarding Cargill’s operations in 66 nations around the world.  He reiterated that this should guide emerging trade partnerships between potential investors and their African trade partner nations.  Dan’s presentation had at its core God’s Kingdom values which he sees as also being business values. 

Open for Business

Governor Pawlenty took note of Africa’s rise as the new trade and business frontier.  Currently, some of the world’s fastest growing economies are in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than eighteen nations registering annual growth rates of over 6 % during the last five years.  Compared to current growth rates of the United States of 1.3, Pawlenty pointed out that Africa is clearly the place to look for new profitable business opportunities.  

While Minnesota has one of the highest number of fortune 500 companies per capita compared to other States, Pawlenty noted the increasing importance of African nations to the future of Minnesota business.  “Minnesota cannot afford to overlook the opportunities in one of the world’s most important emerging markets.  We are well positioned to become a national leader in cultivating new customers, clients, business partners, and friends throughout Africa,” he said.  Pawlenty hinted that plans are underway for him to lead a trade and business delegation from Minnesota to several African countries in the coming months.  The two-day summit concludes Friday afternoon, October 5th.  For more on the Summit visit Mshale Newspaper.

JCfan Life Tip: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Solomon- Proverbs 9:10

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 4th, 2007 at 12:05 am and is filed under Faith Matters, Friendship, Leadership, Missional living, World Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.