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The trade programme that gives preferential access to the US market for African exports has proved disappointing in several respects, critics charged as a conference reviewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) took place in mid-July in Ghana.“When Agoa was initially crafted, there was a great debate as to whether it would be a tool for real, broad, sustained growth and poverty reduction for all of Africa,” commented Congressman Donald Payne, an African-American Democrat. “I must say seven years later, Agoa has not lived up...

The expansion of export trade in Africa is leading to more jobs and prosperity. This is happening, in part, because of the networking program created by U.S. legislation passed seven years ago to replace aid with trade as the engine for economic growth on the continent, a State Department official says.The Sixth Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, held in Accra July 18-19, was "very positive and a success," says Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer, because "it brought together the business sector, the NGO...

A meeting of the African Ministerial Consultative Group on AGOA took place on the sidelines of the AGOA Forum in Accra, and was the second such meeting to be held. In attendance were 34 of a possible 38 AGOA beneficiary countries, as well as various regional institutions such as COMESA, SADC, SACU, ECOWAS, NEPAD and the Africa Development Bank. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industries. In his opening remarks, he emphasised the need for the Forum to focus on the practical implementation of...

As trade grows, Africa prospers. This was the theme of the recently concluded annual AGOA Forum, held this year in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It attracted representatives from all 38 AGOA beneficiary countries, including many trade and industry ministers, as well as a 140-strong US government delegation, representatives of the private sector and civil society, and forms the key annual event in United States / Sub-Saharan Africa trade relations and economic co-operation.Now in its 6th edition, the annual AGOA Forum is provided for in...

While the 2007 AGOA forum did not need to focus almost exclusively on the pending expiry of a key provision (the third country fabric rule), textiles were again in the spot light as delegates grappled with the implications of an interesting new provision enacted late last year by the US. The reasons for the high level of interest were the new regulations pertaining to the sourcing of fabrics, as contained in the African Investment Incentive Act (otherwise known as AGOA IV. AGOA, originally passed into law in 2000 by former US President Bill...

The Sixth Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum was capped July 19 with the announcement by top U.S. government officials of initiatives to strengthen the export-boosting trade measure first passed by Congress in 2000.A new faculty exchange program will try to build the capacity of agricultural institutions in Africa, a continent overly dependent on oil and gas exports, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a video link with the more than 1,000 officials, businessmen and civil society representatives meeting July 18-19...

The United States will continue pursuing a growing economic partnership dedicated to promoting prosperity through expanded trade with some of Africa's poorest countries, according to America's top trade official."We will not stop until every sub-Saharan African country and the continent's 700 million citizens are part of and benefiting" from expanded international trade, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab told the Sixth Annual African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) Forum in Accra July 18.Schwab, who led the U.S. delegation of 139...

The following are United States Secretary of State's Condoleezza Rice's remarks as prepared for her address to the AGOA Forum in Accra, Ghana, on July 18, 2007. Hello everyone. It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to talk with you today. I have participated in the previous two AGOA Forums, and I really regret that I am not able to be with you in person today in Accra. I know the U.S. delegation is being ably headed by our Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, and I want to thank her for her leadership and for her leadership and for her...

President J.A. Kufuor has called on private sector operators in the United States to increase their investments in Africa beyond the extractive industries of oil and precious minerals.He identified agriculture, processing, manufacturing and tourism as some key areas they could put their money to assist in technology transfer and build the continent's capacity to become more competitive and effective partners in trade.Additionally, they should also look at the re-location of industries and outsourcing Information Communication Technology...

The theme of the sixth forum on the African Growth and Opportunity Act that opens Wednesday Ghana's capital, is "As trade grows, Africa prospers." The U.S. initiative allows allows African countries that undertake economic reforms to gain duty free access to the U.S. market. But Naomi Schwarz reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar, some say the agreement has changed little in the trade relationship between the U.S. and Africa.AGOA Forum 2007U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Africa, Middle East and South Asia Holly Vineyard...

The faltering Doha round of global trade talks can still succeed, but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be clinched soon or take several years, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Wednesday."I believe the Doha round can be successful, the question is one of time," she told reporters in Ghana during a trade forum."We will know more in the next several weeks or months as to whether it is a near-term focus or whether we will see the Doha round slip for several years and then come back."Hopes for a deal in the so-called Doha...

An African textile designer hoping to sell more apparel and fabrics in the United States may see her dream realized because of a landmark American trade initiative begun in 2000 designed to spur export-led growth in sub-Saharan Africa.“I send a few things to the U.S.,” says Eva Yebuah owner of Naa Dee Designs, but “my great dream is to expand fabric exports there and acquaint Americans with African fashion.”In addition to dresses and shirts, Naa Dee Designs also makes cushion covers and table cloths using original designs. “These...

The Sixth Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum will be held this week in the Ghanaian capital Accra from July 18 to the 19. AGOA, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2000, is the cornerstone of the United States’ trade and investment policy with sub-Saharan African countries. Ahead of the Sixth AGOA Forum, the U.S. Trade Representative recently submitted a comprehensive report to Congress on U.S. trade and investment policy with sub-Saharan Africa. Florie Liser is Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa. She told VOA...

ACCRA - Nora Bannerman checks the pristine white uniforms made for American pharmacist Walgreens in her factory in the humid heart of the Ghanaian capital Accra.Her Sleek Garments company exports shirts, pants and uniforms under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a 2000 U.S. law that allows nearly 40 African countries to export some goods free of duties and quotas into the United States."AGOA has exposed us to the American buyer," said Bannerman, as fans whirred overhead and sewing machines clicked and buzzed."But we are still...

More than 20 African trade ministers will attend this week's African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) forum in Ghana with Condoleeza Rice, the US secretary of state, opening the forum. They will be discussing whether there have been any benefits due to the act and whether it's time to re-negotiate a better deal for Africa.It's been seven years since the inception of the AGOA - a US Trade Act. Under AGOA, 38 sub-Saharan countries are able to export goods to the US duty free. It is estimated that two way trade between the US and Africa...

Trade under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) continues to create tens of thousands of jobs that better the lives of countless Africans, a panel of trade experts told U.S. lawmakers at a congressional hearing.Seven years after the law was passed by Congress, AGOA's trade benefits continue to spur African economies through export-led growth. The result is improved living standards on a continent that, while blessed with abundant natural resources, has lagged behind global trade expansion because of a lack of investment and poor...

The US African Development Foundation is participating in the AGOA Forum in Accra next week as part of a concerted effort to increase its visibility and promote its development model.It focuses on investing in African small and medium enterprises (SMEs).USADF is an independent public corporation founded in 1980 by the US Congress with a mandate to reduce poverty in Africa. USADF fills a unique niche in the spectrum of federally funded development agencies.A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said instead of top down, state-driven policy...

A textile lobby has criticised the move by African Union heads of government for proposing measures that would see fabric manufacturers in the continent edged out of the global trade by Asian competitors.During last week’s AU meeting in Accra, the heads of state called for all textile traders from the least developed countries (LDCs) to be accorded duty free and quota free access to foreign markets.African countries already enjoy the preferential status in the lucrative American market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act...

There is scarcely a blade of grass in sight over Lesotho now, with only the faintest flecks of green visible from the aircraft coming in to King Moshoeshoe I International Airport. The effects of the worst drought in 30 years are plain to see. Economic hardship raises the risk of political upheaval . But what might the mountain kingdom make and sell to offer employment to its 2-million citizens? Two decades ago, the export-driven growth route successfully pursued throughout east Asia was the obvious one to emulate. But today, does not...

The sixth annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum is scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana, from July 18-19, with the aim of strengthening the partnership for economic reforms and development between the United States and 38 African nations.Signed into law in May 2000 by the former US President Bill Clinton, AGOA provides duty-free access to American markets for a range of 6,000 African products. Its aim is to spur export-led growth in nations that agree to liberalize their economies.US President George Bush extended trade...

United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is expected in Accra to attend a regional forum of the nearly 40 sub-Saharan African countries receiving U.S. trade benefits under AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act approved by the U.S. Congress in 2000.Rice is scheduled to visit Israel and the West Bank during a July 16-20 trip that will include a stop in Ghana, for talks on African trade, according to the State Department.Administration officials say the measure, which lowered U.S. trade barriers to African goods, has helped to...

This beautiful country of Osagyefo, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah hosted the just ended and much-touted 9th Africa Heads of States and Governments' Summit of the African Union (AU) in Accra. ( Editorial from the Ghanaian Chronicle, Accra )It was a feather to our political history that while our sitting President, John Agyekum Kufuor presides over this West African country of ours, he can acclaim to be the Father of Africa, being the present Chairman of the AU.The country's current position on the international scene is something we, as Ghanaians should...

African countries have much to gain from a global trade liberalization accord if they are willing to open up their economies to trade and investment and press other developing countries to do the same, according to a U.S. trade official.Such an accord, negotiated under auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO), “will open up tremendous opportunities for less-developed countries to expand their exports,” said Florizelle Liser, assistant U.S. trade representative for Africa.But how much African nations can gain from trade...

Ethiopia has not done enough to penetrate the US market although that was possible under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a new study revealed on Wednesday.Introduced five years ago to support developing countries to sell their products to the USA market, AGOA gives 38 sub Sahara African countries, including Ethiopia a duty -free access to USA markets for more than 6,000 products.The study showed despite huge potential to export a host of products to the US, Ethiopia, out of out of the 38 countries, fared poor in capitalization...

Following the liberalisation of the global trade in textiles and clothing between 1994 and 2005, Malawi has seen an influx of second-hand clothing on the local market. But while consumers have been happily buying cheap items on almost every street corner, the country's textile industry has been steadily collapsing.Despite Malawi being among the developing states allowed to export textiles and garments to the US market under the preferential access provided by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the country's textile industry is...

The encore of the familiar refrain of the almost-prohibitive costs of doing business in Botswana resulting from high finance costs and serious constraints in the local supply of raw materials was the order of the day at a BEDIA-sponsored seminar for manufacturers yesterday.Participants used the occasion at Boipuso Hall in Gaborone to tell the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority that high interest rates and the importation of raw materials were two factors responsible for pushing costs up."There is no fabric factory in...

Following the liberalization of the global trade in textiles and clothing between 1994 and 2005, Malawi has seen an influx of second-hand clothing on the local market. But while consumers have been happily buying cheap items on almost every street corner, the country's textile industry has been steadily collapsing.Despite Malawi being among the developing states allowed to export textiles and garments to the US market under the preferential access provided by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the country's textile industry is...

The expected appointment of Robert Zoellick as president of the World Bank will likely result in few policy changes affecting East Africa. And that could be interpreted as good news for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, each of which has recently received substantial amounts of assistance from the giant lender.African officials commenting on President George W. Bush’s nomination of Mr Zoellick have generally spoken in positive terms.Concerns continue to be expressed, however, in regard to the bank’s governance structure. Controversies...

Angola and the United States are close to signing an agreement that would strengthen commercial ties between the former Cold War foes, Angola's ambassador to the U.S. was quoted saying on Monday. The deal will be signed "shortly" and form the basis of increased trade and economic exchanges between the oil-rich African nation and the world's economic powerhouse, the ambassador Josefina Diakite told state-run news agency ANGOP. "It will be a very general agreement, similar to those already enjoyed by other African nations," she said in the...

A general accord for the expansion of trade relations between Angola and the United States of America (USA) will be signed soon, said Sunday in Luanda, Angolan ambassador, Josefina Pitra Diakité, before leaving for Washington. Speaking to Angop, the head of Angolan diplomatic mission to the USA, said that the accord was not signed earlier on because the two countries' governments decided there was need to mature ideas. However, in view of the current level of development of political and diplomatic relations, Josefina Diakité believes...

Ghana has put in a request to the United States Government for additional expertise in the production and branding of quality starch to meet the US market under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.This is in addition to the few experts already in town assisting the Ghana Government and other starch producers under the President's Special Initiatives to produce quality starch to meet the US market.Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President"s Special Initiative Minister Alan Kyerematen on the sidelines of the launch of the 6th...

A handful of Cameroonian businessmen and senior managers of para-public and private sector industries recently participated in a business forum in the US.The "cut and dry" businessmen met at the Marriot Hotel in North Bethesda, Washington DC, at the invitation of the US Embassy in Cameroon for the investment forum on projects and finance, running through April 23 to 27.The team led by Jean Paul Yana and Christopher Ekom of the Commercial Department of the US Embassy in Cameroon, with Strategy Manager, Daniel Anagho, liaising from Washington...

Many in Africa expressed disappointment at Wednesday's news former U.S. trade envoy Robert Zoellick was to replace Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank, saying the job should have gone to a developing country.But there was also hope that Zoellick's experience on African trade issues could bring benefits.After decades of Americans heading the international lender, many on the world's poorest continent felt their time had come to play a key role -- and then been snatched away."Look at the United Nations. When Africans had one of their own leading...

Trade between Kenya and the US is set to increase with the expansion and upgrading of JKI Airport to category A status. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, David Nalo, said the airport’s new status, expected as early as 2009, will allow direct horticulture exports and increase the flow of tourists. This will follow compliance with security requirements.The official said this presents the country with the opportunity to diversify its export base away from textiles and apparels under the Africa Growth and...

Kenya`s textile and apparel exports to the United States have declined by more than 13 per cent so far this year despite efforts to bolster this sector through changes in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).New U.S. trade data shows that Kenyan sales of cloth and garments to the U.S. market amounted to $56.8 million for the first three months of this year compared to $65.6 million for the same period last year. The drop continues a trend that saw Kenyan clothing exports to the U.S. fall from $271 million in 2005 to $263.8 million...

The US Trade Representative on Friday submitted a comprehensive report to Congress on the results of US trade and investment policy with regard to sub-Saharan Africa.The 2007 Comprehensive Report on US Trade and Investment Policy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) noted that two-way trade between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries increased 17% in 2006 over 2005, reaching almost $71.3 billion, with both US exports to and imports from the region growing.The report...

Trade facilitation will share the stage with finance, infrastructure development, product quality standards and a host of other economic issues at the Sixth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, U.S. officials say. [Download the draft programme on AGOA.info at this link].The forum, which annually brings together high-level officials from the United States and representatives of the 38 AGOA-eligible countries, will take place in Accra, Ghana, July 18-19. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike...

Local textile and garments producers are failing to meet the demand on the global market especially under African Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa) due to lack of capacity.Chairperson of Garments and Textile Manufacturers Association of Malawi Kantilal Desai said this Friday during a trade consultative meeting in Blantyre.Agoa, a United of States America trade initiative allows least developing counties (LDCs) like Malawi to export textiles and garments duty free on the USA market.But Desai noted that despite Agoa favourable conditions Malawi...

Top executives of Starbucks Coffee Company, the world's leading coffee processing firm, have arrived in the country to find ways of involving their company in the Ugandan coffee sector. A press statement from the Media Centre in Kampala on Monday said Mr Alain Poncelet, Starbucks' Vice President for Coffee, and Mr Peter Torrebiarte, General Manager for Farmer Support Center in Costa Rica, will discuss strategies to enhance the quality of Ugandan coffee exports with senior line ministers. They will also hold discussions with officials from...

Data from the US Department of Commerce reveal that Ghana's exports to the US went up by 21.5% last year.From US$158m in 2005, total exports from Ghana to the U.S. recorded a value of US$192m last year.Trade between the two countries however fell by 9.9 percent from US$535m in 2005 to US$482m.This was caused wholly by decreases in U.S. exports to Ghana which fell by 13.9 percent to US$290m last year, while Ghana's exports to the U.S. increased by 21.5 percent to US$192m during the period.Consequently, Ghana's trade deficit with the U.S....

High and rising commodity prices are sending the value of South African exports to the US surging.In the first two months of this year, exports rose 32 percent from the same period last year to nearly $1.4 billion (R10 billion).This follows a 27 percent rise to $7.5 billion in exports to the US last year. The figures, from the US department of commerce, appear on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa.info) website. But only $309 million worth of local goods fell under Agoa, which covers about 7 000 product items - most of them...

Malawi's government has failed to seal a textile tax-free export extension deal with the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) which now means over 6,000 jobs in the textile industry in the country face uncertain future, Economic Report can reveal.The last three-month extension expired last month before a replacement facility had been clinched with Sacu countries. Each extension means a lot to Malawi’s textile industry because it allows duty-free export status. Now textile companies will face heavy tax tariffs when exporting their products...

Ethiopia's performance in using the AGOA trade opportunities has continued in a growing trend over the last six years and there are indications that the country will even show better growth in the years ahead, USAID said.USAID Mission Director to Ethiopia Glen Anders told WIC recently that though Ethiopia had very low performance in using the opportunity at the beginning, its performance in recent years has been excellent, and added that he expects to see a continued growth.He recalled that Ethiopia had a very good booth at the recent Magic...

The United States government has expressed confidence in the Ghanaian economy in spite of its ups and downs.Having been chosen to host the 6th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum, which begins on July 16, 2007 and ends on July 19, 2007 in Accra, the U.S says Ghana has demonstrated progress towards establishing a market-based economy, protection of human and workers rights and political pluralism.At a one-day seminar to sensitize the media ahead of the forum in Accra, Susan Driano, Chief of the Economic Section of the United...

In the era of centralised planning whereby the state was the major investor, it developed a huge textile sector which processed cotton into yarn, textile and garments. The state had over 15 textile factories using locally grown cotton as the major raw material.These included the Friendship Textile Mill, Ubungo Spinning Mill, Ubungo Garments Ltd, Blanket Manufacturers Ltd, Sungura Textile Mills and Kiltex, all based in Dar es Salaam.Others were Mwatex, Mutex and Motex located in Mwanza, Musoma and Moshi respectively, while othere were...

The Spcial Adviser to the President on Export Programmes and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Modupe Sasore, has called on Nigerian entrepreneurs to invest in the apparel production in order to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportu-nity Act before it expires in 2015.In a keynote address at the commissioning of the Human Capital Development Centre at the NEPC's training school, Sasore noted that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in exploring the US market for apparel as...

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake says there are currently nine companies benefiting from the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) dispensation.Answering a question from Selebi-Phikwe west MP Nonofo Molefhi, Mr Mokalake said the companies mainly export knit wear, T-shirts, pants, tracksuits and sports wear.He said of these nine companies, five were located in Gaborone, three in Selebi-Phikwe and one in Shashe, adding that those in Gaborone were Caratex, Vision International, Cara Fashions, Cara Apparel...

The president of the Nigerian- American Chamber of Commerce/Chairman Presidential Committee on Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Ambassador Olufemi Ani, has urged manufacturers and exporters in the country to brace up for exportation of 6,400 non- oil products to more than 38 million African- American in the United States under the introduction of the initiative almost seven years ago.AGOA is an American legislation that came into effect May 2000. Its initial life span expires next year, and has been extended to year 2015. Under...

Financial support offered by the Uganda government to prop up textile firms, especially those exporting to the US under Agoa, is once again in the spotlight — with more questions being asked about the legality of these funds. This issue returns to haunt the government barely four months after the collapse of Apparel Tri-star, which left the Ugandan government with nearly $20 million in losses from loan guarantees and other subsidies offered to the company to enable it to export garments to the US under Agoa. The EastAfrican has learnt...

The three East African states of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, along with Rwanda and Burundi — the two latest entrants to the East African Community (EAC) — failed once again to pass the $0.5 billion in combined total annual exports to the US last year.These figures were released by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) in February this year. This performance comes seven years after the United States Congress enacted the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in 2001. According to the statistics, which also provide an...