Washington, DC, United States - An American enterpreneurship delegation was due to begin a seven-day trip to three North African countries - Morocco, Algeria and Tuniaia - Thursday, according to a release from the US State Department here. The delegation, being led by the State Department’s Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Lorraine Hariton, includes American entrepreneurs, early-stage investors, non-governmental organisation representatives and academics. The delegation, which also includes several members of the Maghreb Diaspora in the US, is sponsored by the Partners for a New Beginning U.S. -North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (PNB-NAPEO) and is organised by the State Department’s Global Entrepreneurship
Programme.

'The delegation seeks to foster and deepen relationships between U.S. investors and entrepreneurs and their local counterparts in emerging markets. The event will showcase local talent in the Maghreb region through pitching sessions to potential investors; mentoring meetings between fledgling entrepreneurs and established entrepreneurs; angel investor roundtables; and networking opportunities,' the statement said.

It said the highlight of the event would be the selection of three starts-ups, one from each participating Maghreb country, to receive a three-month business incubation at the Tech Town Business Incubator in Detroit, Michigan, alongside a three-month tuition scholarship at Wayne State University in Detroit to study business and entrepreneurship.

Pana 27/10/2011