Invest in Africa and Sunderland Football Club Announce Pioneering Partnership

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• Publié par: invest-in-africa
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• Langue: English

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Invest in Africa and Sunderland Football Club

Announce Pioneering Partnership

PR Newswire

SUNDERLAND, England, June 25, 2012

SUNDERLAND, England

,

June 25, 2012

/PRNewswire/ --

Invest in Africa

and Sunderland AFC announced a first for the Premier League

at the club's Stadium of Light this morning.

Invest in Africa

was unveiled as the club's principal partner and shirt sponsor for

the 2012/13 season. The

Invest in Africa

brand will be displayed on the team's

kit for a minimum of two seasons and seen around the globe to the Premier

League's audience of 4.7bn viewers.

Invest in Africa

is a not-for-profit business initiative that will promote

Africa

as a

leading investment destination and actively challenge misconceptions about

investing on the continent.

Invest in Africa's

mission is to show that

Africa

is

open for business, and that its further development is dependent on private-

sector investment and partnerships with local businesses. The partnership with

Sunderland AFC provides a high profile platform for the brand to take

Invest in

Africa's

message to a worldwide audience, the first time a not-for-profit

initiative of this nature has appeared on a Premier League shirt.

Invest in Africa

is building a partnership of leading companies working in

Africa

to help inspire more investors to do business in

Africa

.

Invest in Africa

welcomes interest from likeminded potential founding partners and companies

interested in joining this initiative.

Africa's

largest independent oil company,

Tullow Oil plc ('Tullow'), is proud to be the initial Founding Partner of

Invest in

Africa.

Speaking at the Stadium of Light, Chief Executive of Tullow Aidan Heavey said:

"At Tullow Oil we've known for years that

Africa

is a thriving and great place to

do business. But potential foreign investors are still missing out because of

outdated perceptions of what it's like to work in

Africa

.

"

Invest in Africa

wants to bridge this gap by challenging misconceptions,

showing that

Africa

is open for business and helping more investors into

Africa

in partnership with local businesses.

"Ultimately this will make

Africa

a more stable and attractive place to work,

which is in everyone's interests. Which is why we're delighted to be partnering

with Sunderland AFC who share

Invest in Africa's

ambitions and desire to reach

a global audience."

Ellis Short, Chairman Sunderland AFC, said: "We are very proud to have

augmented our relationship with

Invest in Africa

through this wonderful

agreement.

"It is a partnership which sets a new benchmark for the club commercially but

what stands out is while doing so, it truly gives something back to both our own

region and to a continent which has become a firm part of our club's success

story over recent seasons.

"Extending our relationship will enable us to put the club's knowledge and

experience - allied with its immense global reach as part of the Premier League

- fully into practice. It fits perfectly with our own aims as we continue

showcasing Sunderland AFC to a global audience which simply loves football."

Sunderland AFC chief executive Margaret Byrne commented: "

Africa

has a

wonderful passion for the game, something which is mirrored here in our own

North East region. Both places are renowned for examples of how football can

engage people and organisations to the extent where it changes lives.

"Sunderland AFC has established a reputation as a club which champions that

idea. We take immense pride in using the power and pull of football responsibly

to ensure it is driven towards strengthening our community and improving

people's lives.

"The club's Foundation of Light has shown the benefits of encouraging new

business partnerships and investment in the North East. With the

Invest in

Africa

initiative, the club will continue to deliver the same positive impact to the

local business community as well as communities across

Africa

."