Welcome to the GABA Marketplace Center
The GABA Marketplace Center, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a private-sector management and trade development company strategically positioned to strengthen commercial linkages between Africa, the Caribbean, and the Midwestern United States. The Center’s corporate mission is to facilitate sustainable economic growth through structured trade, investment partnerships, and advanced supply-chain integration, with a strong emphasis on Michigan’s emerging role as a global gateway for transatlantic commerce.
Through its strategic partnership with Duchess Naturals Limited in Abuja, Nigeria, the GABA Marketplace Center has established a bilateral trade corridor designed to accelerate cross-border investment and market expansion. This collaboration enables African and Midwestern enterprises to participate in an integrated value chain encompassing agro-products, critical minerals, and consumer goods, while advancing the shared goal of economic diversification and industrial development between Africa and Michigan.
Our Services
- Export and Import Advisory: Market entry strategy, regulatory compliance, documentation.
- Trade Corridor Development: Facilitating partnerships between U.S.-Midwest businesses and African/Caribbean enterprises.
- Supply Chain & Logistics Solutions: Warehousing, handling, packaging, distribution and freight coordination.
- Investment Enablement: Structuring cross-border deals, matchmaking between investors and entrepreneurs, and market intelligence
- Supplier Diversity Engagement: Supporting corporations and government agencies in sourcing from certified WBEs and global partners
Additionally, the GABA Marketplace Center will offer the following:
- Opportunities for African-Caribbean entrepreneurs to build real interdisciplinary skills needed to turn their creative ideas into reality and acquire business-related experience.
- Opportunities to connect import-export business focused resources and support.
- A unique set of services designed to assist new and current business owners with their specific needs.
Learn more on the GABA Marketplace Center Trade Hub in Detroit, Michigan
Testimonial
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.”
Thomas
Co-Founder
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.”
George
Manager
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.”
Jack Jo
Founder / CEO
Owner of the GABA Marketplace Center
Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia, owner of the GABA Marketplace Center, is an accomplished global human resources executive whose career reflects nearly two decades of leadership in organizational development, strategic workforce design, and international human capital management. Born in the American South to African immigrant parents, her professional ethos is grounded in resilience, equity, and the advancement of human potential through ethical governance and sustainable enterprise practices.
Throughout her career, Ms. Akama-Makia has mobilized more than $650 million in corporate and philanthropic resources and positively impacted over 700,000 individuals across multiple jurisdictions. Her portfolio includes the design of comprehensive human capital frameworks that transform organizations into sustainable engines of productivity and inclusion.
As an executive leader, she remains committed to creating environments where integrity guides leadership, opportunity is equitably distributed, and economic systems are structured to preserve human dignity. Ms. Akama-Makia’s stewardship of the GABA Marketplace Center exemplifies her enduring belief that commerce and community must progress together to achieve long-term social and economic resilience.
Managing Principal of the GABA Marketplace Center
Mr. Akindele Akinyemi is the Managing Principal of the GABA Marketplace Center.
As Managing Principal, Mr. Akinyemi will assist with the strategic development of The GABA Marketplace Center, ensuring it serves as the premier innovation hub for African and Caribbean entrepreneurs. His mission will be to deliver cutting-edge programs, foster strategic partnerships, and provide the essential tools and resources that businesses need to achieve unprecedented growth and resilience.
A revered thought leader and advocate for economic empowerment, Mr. Akinyemi has consistently delivered impactful solutions that bridge gaps in economic equity. With a career spanning over two decades, he has cultivated an unparalleled understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing African and Caribbean business owners in the U.S. His ability to design and implement strategies that drive measurable outcomes positions him to elevate the GABA Marketplace Center to new heights.