SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan will lead an eight-day trade mission to the Republic of South Africa to help Illinois businesses develop new trading relationships and business agreements in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent.

The trade mission will depart Illinois on May 22 and return on May 29. During the trip, the delegation of business leaders, state officials and staff, agricultural experts, representatives of the arts and Illinois media will visit Johannesburg, Pretoria and historic Cape Town.

Ryan will officially open the new Illinois Trade Office in Johannesburg, which will be administered by former state Rep. Monica Faith Stewart. Ryan said the new trade office will help Illinois businesses gain a solid foothold in South Africa, but also help establish ties in other sub-Saharan nations on the continent.

"Africa is one of the fastest growing markets in the world economy and the key to that market is South Africa. In the last three years, South Africa's progressive government has expanded economic growth from less than one percent in 1998 to almost 4 percent this year. South Africa generates more than 45 percent of the entire continent's gross domestic product," Ryan said.

"The time is right for Illinois to help our domestic businesses and industries find their niche in South Africa. We have much to offer - agricultural products, heavy machinery, pharmaceuticals, computer and communication technology and some of the best international financial services available to help businesses grow."

The governor added that legislation pending in Congress, The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, will help United States companies in the near future by solidifying and easing trade and investment policies between the U.S. and African nations. The bill has passed the House and is awaiting Senate action.

"This is the perfect time to expand our activities in South Africa and on the whole continent," Ryan said. "I want Illinois to be a leader in the world marketplace and we can't sit back and let other states take the initiative."

In 1999, Illinois companies exported $272.5 million worth of goods to South Africa, led by $137 million worth of industrial machinery and computer hardware. Ryan said there is room to improve these export totals, especially in the areas of agricultural products and food, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

In addition to the business "matchmaking" sessions and conferences, the delegates will attend and participate in a number of cultural events that will introduce the people of Illinois and South Africa to each other's art, music and dance. Several members of Chicago's renowned Hubbard Street Dance Company will stage special performances during the trip.

Tentative Itinerary State of Illinois Trade Mission to the Republic of South Africa
Monday, May 22	Travel from Chicago to Atlanta for a connecting South African Airways flight to Johannesburg.
Tuesday, May 23	Arrival in Johannesburg; tour of the City of Soweto; address by Governor Ryan to the students and faculty of Vista University.
Wednesday, May 24	Official opening of the State of Illinois Trade Office; delegation business meetings in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Thursday, May 25	Business meetings in Johannesburg; agriculture tour of Gili Farm; Hubbard Street Company dance workshop and performances; address by Governor Ryan to the students and faculty at RAU University; theater performance of "African Footprint."
Friday, May 26	Travel to Cape Town; tour of the Houses of Parliament and presentation by legislative leaders; business meetings in Cape Town.
Saturday, May 27	Tour Stormont Mondubela Elementary School to donate school supplies, tour of historic Cape Point and Table Mountain.
Sunday, May 28	Tour of Robben Island and the former prison cell of former South African President Nelson Mandela; Travel from Cape Town to Atlanta.
Monday, May 29	Arrival in Atlanta for a connecting flight to Chicago.

 

State of Illinois Trade Mission to the Republic of South Africa May, 2000 Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan Delegation List
Elected Officials	Governor George H. Ryan First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan Senate Democratic Leader Emil Jones, Jr. State Sen. James Clayborne, Jr. State Rep. Suzanne Bassi State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson State Rep. Monique Davis State Rep. Eileen Lyons State Rep. Andrea Moore State Rep. Coy Pugh State Rep. Dan Rutherford State Rep. Arthur Turner Charles Box, Mayor of Rockford Deborah Powell, Mayor of East St. Louis
Professional Delegation and Guests	James Atkinson, Kraft Foods Dr. Vincent Bakeman, HRDI Gregg Baker, USAID Midwest Outreach Office Mark Barmak, Abbot Laboratories Stuart Berkson, McDermott, Will & Emery Arnold Jordan, Chicago State University Mary Joyce, U.S. Export Assistance Center Clifton Kyle, IBM Jeffrey Ladd, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd Kathleen Ladd Dr. Rudy Lombard Jeremy Margolis, Altheimer & Gray Carol McDermott, The Scashi Company Patrick McDermott Lester H. McKeever, Jr., Washington, Pittman, McKeever, LLC Nancy McKeever Lamell McNorris, LJM Enterprises, LLC Chris Melvin, Melvin Securities David Moore, Quality Croutons, Inc. Beatrice Moore Stephen Lee Philips, Robinson Bus Service Ladd Pircon, Benetech, Inc. James Reynolds, Loop Capital Markets Sandra Reynolds Jack Robertson, Jack Robertson & Company Francis Russell, IBM Mary Ann Ryder, Ferris Manufacturing Corporation Courtney Shea, Solomon Smith Barney, Inc. Dr. W. David Shoup, Southern Illinois University College of Agriculture Bernice Singleton Walter Singleton Dr. Carol Diane Surles, Eastern Illinois University Charlie Thompson, MCM Food Products Dr. Wayne Watson, City Colleges of Chicago Jonathan M. Wilson, Baker & McKenzie
Hubbard Street Dance Company	Julie Nakagawa Bottcher Erin Derstine Clover Robinson Adam Hundt Christopher Tierney Emilie DeAngelis Whitney Moncrief
Illinois Media	Ray Long Michael Sneed Allison Payne John Conaty Laura Washington Richard Strasser Gerald Jackson Jason Erkes Osborne Gresham
State of Illinois Staff	Linda Renee Baker, Department of Human Services Susan Cavanaugh, Office of the First Lady John Glazier, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Edward Hamb, Office of the Governor Joseph Hampton, Department of Agriculture Joseph Hannon, Illinois Trade Office Brent Hanson, Central Management Services John Hermanek, Illinois Trade Office James Jacobsohn, Office of the Governor Gertrude Jordan, Department of Employment Securities Penny Kendall, Office of the Governor Dr. John Lumpkin, Department of Public Health Pam McDonough, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Peggy Montes, Illinois Arts Council Laurence Msall, Office of the Governor Robert Newtson, Office of the Governor Jacqueline Price, Office of the Governor Brian Reardon, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Charlie Reed, Illinois Trade Office Phyllis Scott, Office of the Governor Margo Theodore, Illinois Trade Office Dave Urbanek, Office of the Governor Michael Williams, Department of Agriculture