The Obama administration is this week encouraging U. S. companies to boost investment and exports and imports with Africa. One small business is already was embracing the challenge.
Hann Powerboats, of Sarasota Fla., recently changed from making fishing and patrol boats to also churning out high-powered gunboats which are fending off oil pirates off the coast of Nigeria.
The owner finds himself embroiled in a James Bond-style drama on many days, he’s also negotiating the hurdles of increasing exports of highly sensitive products to Nigeria, a developing nation which is well-known for its corruption and often-chaotic bureaucracy.
The exports to Nigeria generate 65% of the company’s revenue. Without it, the business would have probably closed several years ago.