USAID trade hubs created over 60,000 new jobs in Africa - USAID Director
U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for West Africa, Alex Deprez has revealed that US-Africa trade relations has led to the creation of more than 60,000 jobs across the continent.
Alex Deprez expressed US government’s commitment to assisting Africa in its development agenda through trade and investments.
He continued that the interventions by the US government which are implemented by the agencies and partners across the continent especially USAID has yielded significant results.
The USAID Head of Missions for West Africa said his agency has created several opportunities and facilitated the increase in trading activities between Ghana and US.
“Since 2010 USAID regional trade hubs have facilitated more than $300 million in new finance and investments, almost $1 billion in AGOA exports and created more than 60, 000 new jobs right here in Africa” he revealed.
He highlighted the gains Ghana has made through trade and investments cooperation the US stressing that he is optimistic that other African countries will also reap benefits of such partnerships.
Alex Deprez also stated that in Agriculture, Ghana is gradually moving towards value addition as they are decreasingly exporting beans to US.
“Here in Ghana for example, we have a range of wonderful products that are entering the US market including cocoa, shear, cashew and dried mango. An encouraging sign is that these products are often now moving as cocoa butter, and cocoa powder instead of beans. Many products are also being exported as soaps instead of shear nuts, so does kernels rather than raw cashew. Value addition is increasing” he detailed.
“In the apparel sector, here in Ghana, we have seen a US Ghanaian joint venture, founded in 2014, hire more than 1,500 workers mostly women and export nearly 6 million garments into US through AGOA. USAID support for vocational training and finance, we expect to see those numbers continue to expand quickly and to see additional firms from Benin, from Nigeria, from Cote d’Ivoire, and from Senegal to follow suit and we are very excited about that” he intimated.
Alex Deprez was speaking at the AGOA capacity building and skills development workshop in Accra on Monday.
The programme brought together relevant stakeholders across the continent and representatives from institutions such as World Bank, African Union Commission, USAID, AFREXIM Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen.
The workshop is to facilitate exchange of ideas and development of solutions to resolve challenges that has confronted the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunities Act that was initiated in 2000 and renewed in 2010. It is due to end in 2025 thus having 7 years left for its implementation and benefit.
The USAID Director for West Africa also noted that West Africa has an emerging middle class which stands at more than 70 million people at the moment and present enormous trade and investment opportunities for many firms in Africa.
He stressed that unlike several decades ago, Africa has built up its capacity to compete in global market and succeed but indicated that intra trade barriers continue to hinder the rapid growth.
“The business opportunities to supply this rapidly growing middle class and the markets of the region are enormous If the region and the market could make good on breaking down regional barriers. The US is committed to Africa and USAID remains a partner to supporting your efforts to grow and deepen trade relationships” he added.
Read related news articles
Liberia: ECOWAS, USAID sensitise economic operators on AGOA, Food Safety Act in Liberia
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commenced a two-day sensitization workshop for economic operators on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Food Safety Act in Monrovia. However, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a U.S. unilateral trade preference program that allows eligible countries in sub-Saharan...
19 July 2023
US recognizes top Mozambique exporters at second annual exporter awards ceremony [Video]
On August 11, USAID Mission Director Helen Pataki, joined by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Trade Silvino Augusto José Moreno, His Excellency Governor of the Maputo Province Júlio Parruque, and other partners recognized the continuing successes of Mozambican exporters in 2022. [ Scroll to the bottom to view a video of the event ] This was at the second edition of the Annual Exporter Awards, a collaboration between the...
15 August 2022
USAID and Namibian government showcase successes in Namibia
Today, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States to Namibia Jessica Long and representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), together with the Namibian Government, reflected on the past six years of the Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (USAID TradeHub). The event in Windhoek brought together stakeholders from the Namibian market to share experiences, successes, and lessons...
03 August 2022
Angola: USAID seeks to boost Angola's exports to USA
Angolan entrepreneurs will be able to export agricultural products, beverages and others to the United States of America market, through the mediation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This information was provided today by the Acting Minister Counselor of the US Embassy in Angola, Christopher Hattayer, noting that the United States had been supporting efforts to increase economic growth in Angola since 2021...
04 April 2022
AWIEF launches a USAID funded program: Enhanced SME investment and export readiness through a digital platform
Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org) in partnership with USAID Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (USAID TradeHub) is proud to launch a new program which will increase the investor, export readiness and competitiveness of 100 SMEs in Southern Africa. The USAID funded ‘Enhanced Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Investment and Export Readiness Through a Digital Platform’ program is aimed at SMEs...
01 April 2022
South African AGOA Exporter of the Year Award winners announced [incl. Video]
Technical Systems (Pty) Ltd today received the “South Africa AGOA Exporter of the Year” Award for their excellence and innovation in reaching the United States market, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Veldskoen Shoes (Pty) Ltd was the winner in the small enterprises category. Two Greens Lemons received the award for medium enterprises, while Technical Systems (Pty) Ltd also emerged as the winner...
24 November 2021
USAID Administrator Samantha Power on financing new pathways to a stronger US-Africa economic partnership
Good morning everyone, it’s an honor to be here with you today at this year’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit. I want to offer a special thanks to Florie Liser and the Corporate Council on Africa for convening this important event. This year, USAID, the Agency that I have the privilege of running, turns 60. And for those 60 years, the U.S.’ relationship with the continent of Africa has largely been the same. It is a relationship rooted in...
29 July 2021
From canned catfish to high-end fashion: West African products that are in high demand in the United States
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for a wide range of products. To find out more about the potential for West African companies to export products to the U.S. under AGOA, Betsy Henderson spoke to Michael Clements, Chief of Party of the West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, a USAID-funded initiative that aims to catalyse...
03 March 2021
USAID Southern Africa to support upcoming Swakopmund international trade expo
The USAID/Southern Africa will collaborate with the government and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) for the upcoming 7th Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAITEX). Dr Takele Tassew, Agriculture and Trade Advisor for the USAID/Southern Africa Regional Economic Growth Office, confirmed in a statement that this partnership is possible because of a meeting they had with the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME...
03 October 2019
A look back on the East Africa USAID Hub as the project comes to an end
After five years, the East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (the Hub), a USAID project, is coming to a close. This is an expected end as USAID projects typically run for five years. Since the USAID Hub began in 2014, we have been fortunate to work with dedicated entrepreneurs, private sector organizations, governments and development partners. Together, we have supported eastern Africa’s private sector to access and leverage economic...
14 August 2019
US apparel buyer linked to sourcing opportunities in Madagascar
On August 26-30, the USAID East African Trade and Investment Hub conducted a buyer mission to Antananarivo, Madagascar for a large publicly listed U.S. apparel company. The U.S buyer engaged with apparel companies in Madagascar and identified several sourcing opportunities that could support its production of apparel and related fashion goods across several top brands. “Madagascar’s private sector is recognizing and fully embracing...
05 September 2018