8/18/06 Katie Markow, 256/797-4746 (markokf@auburn.edu ,
David M.Granger, 334/844-9999 (grangdm@auburn.edu )

AUBURN UNIVERSITY HOSTS TRADE DELEGATION FROM AFRICA

Representatives from 10 African nations will visit the Auburn campus Wednesday, Aug. 23, to learn about trade possibilities between the U.S. and Africa, as well as opportunities with Auburn University and the east Alabama region.

The visit is hosted by AUs Office of University Outreach and is the first of its type and scope to come to the Auburn area.

This is a great opportunity for Auburn University and east Alabama to showcase our resources for a unique gathering of trade officials from the African continent, said Royrickers Cook, assistant vice president for University Outreach.

The 11-member delegation is part of a U.S. Department of State leadership initiative and is made up of business leaders, government officials and researchers from the nations of Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The State Departments U.S.-Africa Trade Program provides delegations such as this with information on business culture in the United States and trade possibilities between the U.S. and Africa. The program also focuses on the link between good governance and economic development in the new global economy.

While on campus the delegation will hear presentations from representatives of the Auburn Research Park and the I-85 Corridor Alliance. Delegates then will participate in a roundtable discussion on economic development with local government and business officials from Auburn and Opelika.

The delegations visit is coordinated by AU student volunteers with the Alabama Council for International Visitors. We hope this is the first of many such visits, said AU graduate student and volunteer John Markow.

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabamas largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

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