Intermarine, LLC has announced that they will join 19 other companies on an Energy Business Development trade mission to West Africa, led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. They will visit Ghana and Nigeria from May 18-23, 2014. This mission will promote U.S. exports and expand U.S. companies’ presence in Africa by helping American firms launch or increase their business in the energy sector. The firms joining the mission have the expertise to help African countries develop and manage energy resources and systems, as well as build out power generation, transmission, and distribution.   Africa is home to seven of the ten fastest growing economies in the world, and helping U.S. business expand their presence in these African markets is a top priority for the Department of Commerce. In the coming months, the Department’s International Trade Administration will more than double its presence in Africa, opening their first-ever offices in Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. At the same time, offices in Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, and Libya will also be expanded. With these critical investments, the Department of Commerce will be able to increase assistance to U.S. businesses navigating markets in Africa, and help them sell their goods and services in even more places around the world. “As U.S. companies look to ship more goods to the continent, help increase electrical capacity, or help improve transportation networks, they will receive assistance and expertise from these new offices and expanded Foreign Commercial Service staff,” said Secretary Pritzker. “We will endeavor to find partners for American companies, work to navigate regulatory hurdles, and support the development that will help Africa thrive. The day-to-day work of the Commerce Department’s Commercial Service is incredibly important to building economic prosperity. Each day, this team helps American companies break into overseas markets, expand, and find new customers.”