SHAWNEE, Kan. (Jan. 30, 2013) – Bio-Microbics, Inc. and Held & Associates, Inc. hosted an event welcoming the visiting delegation of the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria. The purpose of the visit was for the Delegation to participate in AG CONNECT at the Kansas City Convention Center, Jan. 29 – 31, 2013. The AG CONNECT is an international trade show for the agriculture industry to introduce “a world-class event that brings together the very latest in equipment, technology and ideas from all areas of agriculture production—all around the globe.”
While in Kansas City, the U.S. Department of Commerce-Kansas City set up plant tours with local companies, such as with Bio-Microbics. The delegation, led by Terence McCulley, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mission Nigeria Senior Commercial Officer Rebecca Armand, and Chamberlain Eke, Lagos Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, accepted these off Conference meetings for an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the technologies available in the U.S.for onsite wastewater and stormwater treatment.
“Why is Bio-Microbics in Kansas City?” Robert J. Rebori asks the crowd. “Is it the weather?” said with a blanket of snow outside. “The beaches? The mountains? Kansas City has several things that people may not know. We have an enormous amount of creative and engineering talent in the Water and Wastewater field here in the Midwest. Also, Kansas City is the shipping capitol of the world. We have more intermodal, more rail, and more truck access than any place else in the world…and, we do it with the help of Held & Associates.”
Ambassador McCulley addressed the Team at Bio-Microbics, representatives for Held & Associations, and the audience, “Why Nigeria is important to the United States…We have a great delegation of 55 Nigerian companies looking at a real key sector…It’s all about introducing great American companies to our Nigerian Delegation, networking, building partnerships, and encouraging American companies to look at Nigeria as a potential destination for investment. Bio-Microbics, with your international footprint, is a perfect company to look at this model with 70% of your business overseas. It’s exactly what President Obama was talking about when he introduced the National Export Initiative.”
“Clearly you guys know what it is about [exporting]….and the importance to establish a relationship with Nigeria. Nigeria is really important to the United States. It is the fifth largest supplier to the US for oil. It’s an important commercial relationship. It’s an important diplomatic relationship. It’s an important strategic relationship. …I think it is the poster child for the [U.S.] President’s Doing Business in Africa Initiative: it is an important emerging market…it is a difficult market...It has challenges…”
The interactive session included a plant tour, a few installation videos of systems in other countries with various applications. Some of the engineering professionals among the delegation asked more in depth questions for the wastewater and stormwater treatment systems offered by Bio-Microbics.
The program’s mission is to understand opportunities and challenges with regard to water; and, learn of current projects with the already established Distributor Bio-Microbics has in Nigeria. Currently, the Nigerian economy is undergoing transformations that will position private sector to take ownership of the capital, financial and entrepreneur services in order to stimulate growth in the productive sector.
Other participating members of the Delegation included representatives from the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce in Kansas City: Regina Heise, Director, Kansas City U.S. Export Assistance Center; Ruby Sirna, International Trade Specialist; and Ali Khan from Aggregate & Mining (ASTEC Industries, Inc.).
After the presentation, delegation member Eng. Naiyeju Festus gave his comments to our staff, “Bio-Microbics is treating water for life.” Ambassador McCulley understands that for Nigeria’s economy to move forward, they must establish more relationships like those with Bio-Microbics. Nigeria, like the rest of the world, comes to America to find and buy the most innovative and best made products in the world. What better place to start to look than Kansas City and the Heart of America!
As a manufacturer of decentralized wastewater for homes, communities, commercial properties and marine vessels, Bio-Microbics pre-engineered, pre-packaged, certified, “Fixed Integrated Treatment Technologies” (FITT®) are the result of decades of real-world operating history and proven results that offer significant environmental benefits. Bio-Microbics has been recognized globally in exporting wastewater and stormwater equipment with receiving the 2011 KS Exporter of the Year Award and the 2012 President’s “E” Award for Excellence in Exports from the U.S. Commerce Department. With a commitment to environmental stewardship and goal to provide sustainable solutions for treatment, especially with regard to small wastewater treatment systems, our systems are third-party tested for environment protection and reviewed as low cost, municipal technology as a “Better Management Practice (BMP)” for towns and villages development (Frost & Sullivan, USEPA, etc.). Bio-Microbics has more than 42,000 installations in more than 60 countries (opening up 7 new markets in 2011 alone).
Established in 1981, Held & Associates is an international transport & documentation specialist in the central U.S. The staff collectively represents more than 300 years of international transport experience and we are proud to say we have numerous clients that have utilized our services for more than 30 years.