Wisconsin to Send Trade Mission to Africa

MADISON - Wisconsin will be sending a trade mission delegation to Africa this summer with Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), set to lead an economic partnership mission to Ghana and South Africa, highlighting Wisconsin's business relationships with African counterparts and promoting educational, institutional, community, and people-to-people ties. The trade mission will build upon Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration's efforts to bolster international trade efforts, promote state exports, and ensure Wisconsin's vital industries, businesses, families, workforce, and economy continue to thrive.

"Over the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the results of strong partnerships we have been proud to create and maintain abroad to ensure continued growth, expansion, and certainty for our local businesses, regional economies, and communities," said Gov. Evers. "During a time of global trade uncertainty and chaos out of Washington, this trade mission will be critical to continuing to build on our global partnerships and promote Wisconsin as a place where industries can grow their businesses now and well into the future."

Africa is home to the world's youngest and fastest-growing population, with more than 1.5 billion people. While individual markets vary, Africa represents one of the few regions where demographic expansion, economic development, and rising consumer demand are expected to converge over the coming decades, making it an increasingly important destination for U.S. business engagement. Currently, Wisconsin companies already partner with Ghana and South African economies and businesses to help support the state's agriculture industry, as well as manufacturing and healthcare.

"As a former Wisconsin manufacturer who grew our family business by exporting globally, including to South Africa, it's important to recognize that Wisconsin businesses have a meaningful presence in both Ghana and South Africa," said WEDC Secretary and CEO John W. Miller. "Through trade relationships, distribution partnerships, and investment opportunities, Wisconsin companies operating in these two markets contribute to job creation, technology transfer, and economic growth while strengthening the state's commercial ties across Africa."

The trade mission will include visits to Ghana and South Africa. Planned stops include Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd., which is the largest cocoa processor in Ghana and operates its North American manufacturing facility in Franklin, Wisconsin. This partnership is the largest African foreign direct investment project in the food and beverage industry in the U.S. Additionally, South Africa hosts a large concentration of Wisconsin business activity, including exports of industrial machinery, medical devices, agricultural products, and specialized manufacturing inputs. While there, the governor will meet with Wisconsin companies with an established African presence and government officials to discuss future economic opportunities.

This will be the governor's fourth trade mission since being elected in 2018. The governor has previously led trade and investment missions in Japan in 2019, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in 2023, and Germany and France in 2025. The trade mission is set to occur later this month.