Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 17, 1993 TAG: 9309170202
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY O'DELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Gov. Douglas Wilder, association chairman, said President Clinton was expected to speak at a luncheon Monday. However, the White House on Thursday said the president would be unable to attend.
The governors of 13 Southern states have registered, along with government officials from about two dozen African countries. Wilder said the association and the African officials will sign a nonbinding trade agreement.
"In America, it has become apparent that our prosperity cannot be maintained simply by selling goods to our own consumers," Wilder said. "We must be able to compete around the globe and must aggressively seek out new markets for our products."
The General Assembly appropriated $150,000 to pay for the governors' meeting. The African trade summit, which was Wilder's idea, is being financed by nearly $350,000 in private donations.
"It took an African-American governor to aggressively promote trade with what has been heretofore the forgotten continent," said Wilder spokesman Glenn Davidson.
He said Wilder "fully appreciates the enormous economic potential that these nations, rich in natural and human resources, afford the state and country."
Participants will begin arriving this weekend. Welcoming ceremonies are set for Saturday evening and Sunday outside the Capitol. The trade and cultural exchange discussions are scheduled for Monday.
The African officials will continue those talks Tuesday. They will be joined by business leaders and economic development officials to discuss specific commodities, tourism and cultural programs.
Meanwhile, the governors will meet separately to discuss domestic issues. They will screen a video touting their accomplishments, and then review a regional commission's report on the future of the South.
by CNB