The US Secretary of Commerce, Donald Evans has arrived in Accra for a two-day business development mission. Evans who was accompanied by representative of 12 US businesses is on a two nation African tour that would also take him to South Africa.

The businesses, mostly small companies would explore and expand export opportunities in African Information Technology, transport, environmental technology, and security and safety equipment sector. In 2001, US merchandise export to Ghana reached 200m dollars making Ghana one of America’s largest markets in the sub Saharan region while bilateral relationship between US and Ghana is one of the most diverse.

Small businesses in the US represent 97 per cent of all US exports. The Trade Promotion Authority of the US and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will allow these small businesses and African businesses to tap the power of market to foster economic growth, create jobs and improve upon the life of citizens of both countries.

South Africa is Africa's leading beneficiary of the AGOA and is the US largest export market in Africa. US export to South Africa totalled $2.9bn last year, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of total US export to the region.

Some of the companies are CMS Energy Corporation, Forest Oil Corporation, Oak Wood Corporation, Water Health International and Borland Software Corporation. Garry Pergl, US Charge d'Affairs, met them on arrival.