Togo's trade minister laments suboptimal use of AGOA provisions
Togo's trade minister said here Tuesday that the United States' African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is "not used optimally" by African economies.
Bernadette Legzim-Balouki, Togolese minister of trade and private sector promotion, said this during the session on the private sector and civil society at the 16th Forum of the AGOA in Lome, capital of Togo.
The Togolese minister cited the lack of optimal use of AGOA regarding the challenges faced by the financing and business environment and regional integration.
"We must then overcome these challenges in order to make more competitive African enterprises so as to face the international competition as most of African products for exportation are unable to penetrate the international market, particularly the American market," she said.
Legzim-Balouki said the Lome Forum offers all the "opportunity to discuss and contribute to the improvement of trade exchange between the United States of America and Sub-Saharan African countries."
The session focused on how to strengthen economy through trade, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and accountable governance.
The necessity of corporate social responsibility, which contributes to the development of prosperous societies, was also discussed at the session.
The theme of this year's forum is "The United States and Africa: Partnering for Prosperity through Trade."
Scheduled to close on Aug. 10, it is expected to gather over one thousand participants from 38 Sub-Saharan African countries and the United States.
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