DR. BILL RELEFORD CHAMPIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

“Africa Needs Trade Not Aid” Sites Releford
Proves it with his “Global Integrated Development Group”

Releford Launches Urban Apparel Line,
“MIA- Made In Africa”
To Debut at MAGIC in Vegas

With a simple game of word association for Africa, medical pioneer and business entrepreneur, Dr. Bill Releford purports a strong case. Typical media coverage of the Motherland relays images of ravaging disease, HIV/AIDS, hunger, despair and genocide.

Though Africa, the planet’s second’s largest continent, has its share of war, poverty and corruption, these are situations found globally. On the other hand, Africa also boasts rising stock markets, burgeoning city life, a bustling middle class and even Internet cafes and cell phones! In fact, according to the U.S. government’s Overseas Private Investment Corp., Africa offers the highest return in the world on direct foreign investment. The irony is that it attracts the least when compared to other emerging economies.

With media attention slanted toward the negative aspects of the continent, the positive attributes are often underserved, ignored and unattended. With the growth of his company, Global Integrated Development Group (GIDG), Wagoner, Oklahoma native, Dr. Bill Releford is on a concentrated mission to change the way people think and feel about Africa. Releford strongly believes that the answer to Africa’s numerous challenges is economic development through trade and investment. Cites Releford, “Because we are bombarded with negative images of Africa, selling the opportunities that abound there has not been an easy task.”

Promoting education, economic and human capital development in emerging regions around the world, particularly in Sub Sahara Africa, is the primary mission of GIDG. Releford, a podiatric surgeon by trade, is the first African American to have successfully tapped the garment/ apparel sector in Sub Sahara Africa.

His company, GIDG, is doing the unheard of, providing private label manufacturing for companies such as Robinson’s Outdoor, Whitewater, Wal Mart, Dilla Golf and others. In addition, Global Integrated Development Group has developed a Sub Sahara Africa manufacturing alliance that includes plants in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Mali, South Africa and even Madagascar!

Explains Releford, “Africa needs trade not Aid! Due to the current U. S. trade tensions with China, many retailers are looking for alternate manufacturing sourcing. Once we dispel their concerns and misconceptions about the workforce, labor conditions, delivery times and infrastructure in Africa, US retailers are realizing a competitive advantage with duty free manufacturing in Sub Sahara Africa.”

Releford further remarks, “The historic U.S. trade legislation known as The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) authored by the Clinton Administration and supported by the Bush Administration, allows companies to import from Africa duty free and without quota limits. As a result, GIDG’s first big order created over 400 jobs in Ghana alone!”

A genuine pioneer, Releford is known for foraging new pathways. The founder of the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation, his work efforts and research have served to decrease the amputation rates in high risk populations around the world, including Fiji, Tahiti, Costa Rica, Brazil and Africa. A celebrated doctor of sorts, based in Inglewood, CA, his patient roster boasts several celebrities who have also benefited health wise.

“As African Americans it is vital that we nurture our economic and social ties with Africa. Contrary to mainstream belief, doing business in Africa is not only culturally enriching but can also be financially rewarding as well,” offers Releford.
With that in mind, Releford is in the midst of launching MIA – Made In Africa, the parent urban apparel line to Butta, an ensemble of high quality fashionable undergarments and loungewear.

“Our Butta line will debut at the MAGIC convention in Vegas this August. We hope to promote a sense of belonging, pride and roots renewal for our homeland Africa, among the hip hop generation,” says Releford. “As we begin to shape their beliefs about Africa, the possibilities for future business transactions become endless! “

For more information about Global Integrated Development Group and MIA / Butta, go to www.Global-Africa-US.com .

Note to Media: Dr. Releford is available for interview. Send requests to makeda@jazzmynepr.com