The Great Lakes–Africa Exchange

Michigan cannot afford to be absent from the rapidly accelerating trade and investment relationship between the United States and Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean already account for hundreds of millions of dollars in Michigan export activity, with sub-Saharan Africa alone generating $624 million in export revenue for the state in 2024, primarily in manufactured goods, mobility components, and industrial equipment. Yet this figure understates the strategic importance of the region, particularly as Africa holds approximately 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements essential to electric vehicles, battery storage, and advanced manufacturing.

Michigan’s geography places it in a uniquely powerful position. The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway system provides Michigan with a direct, scalable logistics advantage that few states can replicate. These ports are not legacy infrastructure; they are strategic national assets capable of supporting mineral imports, agricultural trade, and digital-era supply chains connecting Africa to North American manufacturing corridors.

Beyond minerals, African trade with Michigan increasingly includes agricultural products (sesame, cassava, cashews, coffee, fish) and information technology collaboration, including fintech, AI-enabled logistics, and remote workforce development. These sectors directly align with Michigan’s reindustrialization, food security, and technology goals.

Elected officials and candidates for office should recognize that this is not a future trend—it is an active economic movement. Legislation such as Michigan Senate Bill 267, which if passed, would establish the Michigan–African–Caribbean Trade Commission, reflects a growing acknowledgment that ignoring Africa means forfeiting jobs, investment, and geopolitical relevance.

Equally important, immigrant investors from Africa, including those entering through investor visa pathways, bring more than capital. They bring market knowledge, supply-chain access, entrepreneurial capacity, and job creation. Structured correctly, these investments anchor processing facilities, technology hubs, and logistics operations in Michigan—particularly in communities seeking inclusive economic growth.

Michigan’s choice is clear: lead in building ethical, resilient, and diversified global trade systems—or watch other states do it first.