Expanding into African Growth Markets

My guest will be Leyland Hazelwood.  Leyland has managed and implemented development projects and market entry for companies in 44 African countries, during the last 40 years. He guides corporate market entry strategies, brand positioning, foreign partner selection and cross-border distribution into African markets. He was a member of the first United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Mission to Africa in search of investment and trade opportunities for American businesses. Leyland, as Senior Advisor, Trade and Manufacturing to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently spent a year in Kigali identifying and promoting manufacturing opportunities for foreign investors. Hazlewood managed the groundwork for establishing the $100 million Southern African Enterprise Development Fund to promote business expansion and organizing the first International Franchise Opportunity Conference in Africa.  He structured the cross-border investment involving Nike and advised other Fortune 500 companies on African market entry. As Consul in South Africa for the Republic of Guyana, Leyland participated as a delegate in high level international meetings and conferences relating to investment, trade and economic development. He lectured in Economics at Baruch College, CUNY, New York. and he has been a panelist and presenter at business conferences, internationally.