President and CEO of RIFE, Kwabena Osei-Sarpong, attended the launch of a partnership to facilitate export-led growth between the U.S Department of Commerce and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at a roundtable discussion at Morgan State University on 11 February 2022.
The launch under the theme “New Year, New Growth, New Global Sales” is a three-part educational series led by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and the United States Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
Importance of this partnership.
According to the US Department of Commerce, despite the numerous programs available, to assist managers with the technical aspects of international trade and export, many firms’ challenges with “perceived barriers” go unattended, representing a real disincentive for small business to export.
Firms that fail to become active in international trade may begin to experience financial difficulties as foreign competition for slowly expanding domestic markets intensifies. This trend is especially alarming to small U.S. businesses as less than 10% of them are actively involved in international trade despite having export potential.
With small businesses employing more than 50% of the US private sector workforce and with the spread of factors of production globally, there is a significant opportunity for America’s small businesses.
Participants will learn how to enter new international markets, globalize their digital brand, and develop export finance strategies with the help of trade specialists from the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
Participants will also learn from other small company owners and 10,000 Small Businesses alumni who are effectively exporting.
RIFE International as a U.S businesses exports to several parts of Africa including Ghana and has received numerous supports from the U.S Department of Commerce is International Trade Administration including Export Grants, Export Consulting among others.
John F. W. Rogers, Executive Vice president of Goldman Sachs and Chairperson of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, addressing the group together with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
About RIFE International
RIFE International is a globally focused energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable construction solutions provider based in the Washington DC metropolitan area, United States with Offices in several locations including Ghana. RIFE provides solutions that impacts governments, Institutions, and private industry in ways that optimize efficiency, mission-fulfillment, profitability, and growth.
With a portfolio of nearly over 50 million square footage of energy efficiency and renewable energy works done in the commercial & industrial space, as well as a recipient of globally recognized awards, the company has well positioned itself as a premier global clean energy solutions-focused organization.
The Ghana division of the company is positioned as a high-growth clean energy solutions company, with a niche focus on solar energy and energy efficiency for its commercial and industrial clients, as well as SMEs. It focuses on providing solar energy to help SMEs as well as commercial and industrial(C&I) customers decarbonize electricity supply, while offering significant cost savings.
The company offers solar energy installations to customers with no capital expenditure, which combined with immediate energy cost savings unlocks capital for SMEs and C&I customers to expand their businesses, hire more people hence creating jobs and contributing to the overall economy.
Kwabena Osei-Sarpong is the President and CEO of RIFE International, an award-winning energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable construction firm. Acknowledged as a “Climate Trailblazer” by the Harvard Business School Climate Symposium, Kwabena has received several awards for his work in sustainability including the Apex Power 30 under 30, Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40, Association of Energy Engineers – Energy Innovator of the Year, Maryland Business Adapts Honoree, Global Leadership Award in Customer Excellence – JCI, Top 100 MBE in the U.S, Radford University Outstanding Alumnus 2021, among others.
He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University, with a focus on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability and Executive Education from Harvard Business School.
Kwabena serves on the US Department of Commerce Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEAC), Maryland Clean Energy advisory council, Africa Utility Week Advisory Board, Radford University Business School Entrepreneur in Residence and on the board of Enactus Ghana.
A native of Ghana, Kwabena’s vision is to create life-changing impact that combines his passion for clean energy, prosperity for his native country and Africa as whole, as well as philanthropy.
