US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton and Trade Representative Ron Kirk will be among the 2,000 American delegates expected to attend the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Lusaka next year.

The forum, whose proposed theme is Enhancing productivity and value addition for deeper economic integration, will be held at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre from June 7 to 8, and will be preceded by a business meeting.

Speaking at the AGOA stakeholders’ preparatory meeting held in Lusaka over the weekend, USA embassy in Zambia, political-economic officer Phil Nervig said the US government was pleased to accept President Rupiah Banda’s offer to host the 2011 AGOA forum in Zambia.

Mr Nervig said past delegations to the AGOA forum have included cabinet secretaries, congressional delegates and trade, investment and development experts from the US government.

Other delegates expected from the US include private sector trade delegation, civil society groups and the Corporate Council on Africa, an organisation dedicated to improving Africa’s trade and investment climate and raise the profile of Africa in the US business community.

The eligible 38 AGOA countries that include Zambia will also attend the high powered business meeting.

Mr Nervig said the Ministry of Commerce, Trade And Industry has shown commitment to economic growth through trade, investment and economic integration.

“We look forward to a robust and productive forum in Lusaka…with so many people coming together from around Africa and the United States. Zambia has the opportunity to showcase itself as the destination for investment, trade and tourism,” he said.

He said Zambia has played a leadership role in the region, both at the World Trade Organisation’s least-developed countries group and the ministerial consultative group on AGOA.

AGOA is the legislation that provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with the most liberal duty access to the US market of any country with which the US does not have a free trade agreement.

About 7,000 products from 38 AGOA eligible countries including Zambia can enter the US duty free.

Mr Nervig said a team of experts on AGOA forum from Washington DC is working closely with Zambia on planning and execution of the forum.

He said the Zambian Government is committed to making the AGOA forum a success but needs stakeholders to ensure its success.

At the same function, Commerce, Trade and Industry acting permanent secretary Lubasi Sakwiba said Government has decided to host the forum to address the imbalance of trade between Zambia and the US.

Zambia’s exports to the US market had grown from US$7.9 million in 2001 to over US$25 million in 2008. In 2009, exports to the US declined to US$5.3 million while imports from the US during the same period have amounted to US$386 million.

Mr Sakwiba said the objective of AGOA is to encourage exports to the US and this requires the involvement of the private sector.

He said the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in collaboration with the US government have developed strategies for the forum with three clusters having been developed that will include Government, private sector and civil society organisation.

Latest AGOA Trade Data currently available on AGOA.info


Click here to view a sector profile of Zambia's bilateral trade with the United States, disaggregated by total exports and imports, AGOA exports and GSP exports.

Other regularly updated trade statistics on AGOA.info include: (click each link to view)