WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson left for Nigeria on Tuesday to begin the process of building trade relations between the county and the African nation.

“We are going to build a first-class economy in Prince George’s County,” Johnson said before leaving. “That’s the bottom line. The economics pay for everything that we do in this county, and we have to transcend.”

Seven county businessmen of Nigerian decent who are in fields from construction to engineering and health care invited Johnson on the trip, according to Johnson spokeswoman Denise Roberts. “We are going to be talking to businesses and institutions that we would want to locate in our county,” Johnson said.

Johnson will visit Lagos, the Imo State, the capital in Abuja, celebrate the 47th anniversary of Nigeria's independence and address the Nigerian Congress about the global marketplace. Roberts said Johnson will be meeting with political leaders and officials, but was unsure if he would meet with businesses.

“The objective is to open up or to start the discussion for county companies to partner with Nigerian businesses to deliver goods and services in other market sectors that will be beneficial to citizens of both communities,” Roberts said.

In October, Roberts said, Prince George’s will host an international economic summit focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. At the summit, business and political leaders from those nations and Prince George's will have the opportunity to meet and explore potential business opportunities. A summit focusing on Africa is scheduled next year.

“Business in the United States is not just local,” Roberts said. “Companies all across the United States are marketing all over the world, and we want businesses in Prince George’s County to be just as competitive.”

Roberts said on a previous trip to The Gambia in Africa, Johnson facilitated a $46 million deal between Prince George’s-based BTI Construction and the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation of The Gambia. Roberts said Johnson will return from his trip, which is being paid for by the businessmen's companies, on Oct. 4.

dfowler@dcexaminer.com