Department of Economic & Community Development
Bill Hagerty, Commissioner

May

Multi-Sector Trade Mission to Cameroon Set for May 2013

Make plans now to join the Cameroon Multi-Sector Trade Mission May 26 - 30, 2013. Target business sectors include agriculture, mining, transportation, energy and water, oil and gas, and telecommunications. Cameroon has the largest economy in the six-nation Central African Economic and Monetary Community and boasts one of the highest per capita GDPs (by purchasing power parity) with a well-educated and untapped labor force in sub- Saharan Africa. Additionally, Tennessee and Cameroon trade increased 51 percent in 2011.

 

Benefits of the trade mission include pre-screened one-on-one meetings with potential partners, distributors and buyers; pre-mission assessment of the Cameroon market and in-country briefings; access to Cameroon and U.S. business officials; and business counseling with U.S. Commercial Service industry specialists from U.S. Embassy Cameroon.

 

Space is limited to only 20 delegates, and the deadline for registration is April 26, 2013. Registration fees are $5,500 for companies with 500 or less employees and $7,500 for companies with more than 500 employees. ECD is offering to partially sponsor eligible executives from small to medium-sized businesses. For more information about ECD sponsorships, contact Andrew Dunn at Andrew.Dunn@tn.gov.

 

For more information on Cameroon and the trade mission application, please visit www.acmidsouth.org or contact Mike Njimini, president of the African Chamber of the Mid-South, at (901) 229-5696 or Mike.njimini@acmidsouth.org.

 

June
10 – 12: Governor’s Innovation Conference, Nashville
For more information: www.launchtn.org

 

11 – 13: Southland Summit, Nashville
Southland is the Southeast’s premier conference for connecting startup and early-stage companies from the Southeast with investors from around the country.  Positioned between CMA Fest and Bonnaroo, the conference will provide startups and early-stage companies opportunities to network with investors as well as hear a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions and participate in pitch competitions.  The conference will have four tracks: healthcare, medical devices & diagnostics, digital media and entertainment, and tech.  In true Nashville style, there will also be performances by national recording artists.  It’s definitely going to be an event you won’t want to miss!
For more information: http://launchtn.org/southland-summit/

 

July
14 – 16: 6th Annual Conference of the Southeastern United States - Canadian Provinces Alliance (SEUS-CP), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The annual SEUS-CP conference promotes business-to-business matchmaking, trade and investment and knowledge-sharing among the participating provinces and Southern states.

August
5 – 8: CAR Management Briefing Seminars, Traverse City, Mich.
The CAR Management Briefing Seminars is an annual gathering of more than 900 auto industry, academic and government leaders addressing critical issues and emerging trends in an atmosphere designed to build relationships. The conference includes targeted sessions focusing on topics such as the global manufacturing strategies, tooling for tomorrow’s automobiles, connected vehicles, advanced powertrain, purchasing, skilled workers, designing for technology, and leveraging leadership, maximizing momentum.
For more information: http://www.cargroup.org/?module=Page&sID=management-briefing-seminars

 

October
2 -4: 2013 Southern Automotive Conference, Biloxi, Miss.
The Southern Automotive Conference is the regional conference in the southern automotive corridor. The meeting, which attracts OEM, suppliers, and members of the economic development and educational communities, is held jointly between the Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Associations, rotating among the states each year.
For more information: http://mamaonline.net/?page_id=107

 

November
17-19: 36th Annual Japan-U.S. Southeast & Southeast U.S. Japan Associations Meeting, Biloxi, Miss.
For more information: www.mississippi.org/seus-japan
Contact: Liz Cleveland, 601.359.3155 or lcleveland@mississippi.org

 

18-24: Global Entrepreneurship Week
Each year, countries across six continents come together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. To think big. To turn their ideas into reality. To make their mark. Each November, Global Entrepreneurship Week connects young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and many others participated in a range of activities, from online to face-to-face, and from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings.
For more information: http://www.gewusa.org/

 

More information will be added as available.
Stay up to date on the latest ECD events by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.