Wisconsin companies make headway in Africa

COMPANIES IN Wisconsin USA, are selling more and more products to South Africa. That’s according to Mary Regel, director of the bureau of investment and export in the state Department of Commerce, who helped lead a Great Lakes business mission to South Africa last year. According to the Chicago Tribune, the shrinking value of the US dollar against foreign currencies is proving highly beneficial. "We're more competitive than we may have been in the past," Regel said. Last year, the state sold $140.7 million worth of products to South Africa, a 40% increase from 2006, according to the Tribune report. Machinery, vehicles, paper products and electrical equipment made up the products in highest demand.