Above, members of the Tanzanian delegation at a workshop sponsored by WSOS in 2001.

A grant from the U.S. State Department will allow 16 Tanzanian business leaders to visit Northwest Ohio in 2005 to gather information on the role of local governments in economic development.

The visit, scheduled to take place between May and December, will be organized by the Great Lakes Consortium (GLC) for International Training and Development. WSOS is the administering agent for the GLC, which is a partnersip of the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College, the Medical College of Ohio and WSOS.

In 2001, the GLC organized a similar visit for seven businesswomen from Tanzania.

The visit has two components. Two groups of eight will visit NW Ohio at different times, and two groups of eight NW Ohio residents will then visit Tanzania to provide support to the Tanzanians as they conduct trainings and workshops in their regions.

The goal of the exchange is to improve the business environment and available support services for the private sector in Tanzania. The group hopes to develop business skills, learn about the U.S. market, establish new Tanzania-U.S. trade linkages, and develop cultural understanding between the U.S. and Tanzania. The exchange will provide opportunities to share practical information on the importance of regional cooperation, and the need to support entrepreneurial training and networking as well as business associations and resource centers in urban and rural communities. The program will enhance the ongoing cooperation between GLC, the Dodoma Region and the City of Tanga.

While in Ohio, the Tanzanians will participate in professional and community events in NW and Central Ohio, SE Michigan and the Amish community in Indiana.