GREENBELT, MD - Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson recently hosted the Gala Dinner for the county's Third Annual International Economic Summit: "Brewing Up Business with Africa."

"As part of the Prince George's County 2008 International Economic Summit, this Gala Dinner celebrated our continuous efforts to facilitate business to business relationships with Africa," Johnson said. "This conference is important to our county because we understand that we are living in a global business environment and the economic success of our county is tied to our ability to attract business partners worldwide."

The two-day conference included a full day of business-to-business meetings, with information sessions, followed by a tour of major development projects in Prince Georges County

This deal-making event featured business-to-business meetings pre-scheduled in an electronic matchmaking matrix established by the new Prince George's County Africa Trade Office. Local companies engaged in discussions directly with prospects, which may lead to deals with businesses from as many as 16 African countries.

While the business-to-business meetings took place, information sessions were held on topics including exporting agricultural products; financing, tourism and infrastructure; logistics and forming strategic international partnerships.

Several delegations from African countries attended the Summit including the Cross River State and the Osun State in Nigeria; chairmen of various chapters of the African Business Roundtable worldwide; ministers; CEOs of multinational corporations headquartered here and abroad and managing directors of several leading African banks.

Day Two of the event included a tour of Prince George's County, and concluded with the Gala where remarks were given by several distinguished leaders, including Florizell Liser, the U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Africa, Maryland's Secretary of State John McDonough and H.E. Dr. Kwame Bawuah Edusei, U.S. Ambassador, Embassy of Ghana.