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The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) is working with selected African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligible countries to address the supply and value chain constraints.The organisation will also assist eligible countries to develop distribution networks.FDA executive director Anthony Okonmah said his organsiation was working with AGOA eligible countries to implement the recommendation made by the AGOA Civil Society in June during the forum in Lusaka.“We are working with select AGOA eligible countries to implement the...

The power and efficacy of a popular engagement by a people in strategic self-development, though quite challenging and requiring enormous resources and sacrifice, is not as dependent on material capital as we Africans have constantly been told and have come to believe.In being so persuaded to believe otherwise, our very knowledge of our relative deficit in capital has come to serve as more of a tool for psychological self-handicapping, given especially the fact that we have been castigated ceaselessly by this and similar 'facts' ad nauseum,...

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) should have its third-country fabric provision extended to improve economic opportunities in the textile and apparel sector, according to a US Congressman.Democrat Jim McDermott, who authored legislation establishing and refining AGOA, said the extension was a “critical component of the continued success of the law”, and called for AGOA to be updated to include the new Republic of South Sudan.Passage of the bill, which is supported by the Obama administration, would align the third-country...

A Bill to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provisions on third-country fabric and on the inclusion of Africa's youngest country, South Sudan, has been introduced in the United States (US) Congress. [Note: copy of legislation is available here on AGOA.info at the following LINK] If passed, the amendments would extend the current provision on the third country clause on textile products which is scheduled to expire in September 2012 to 2015 when AGOA expires. The legislation which was presented to the Congress on July...

Kenya has activated a power-rationing programme that might hurt industry and small service providers already battered by high energy and commodity prices.Power generator KenGen and independent power producers are not supplying enough electricity to make up for cuts caused by breakdowns and regular maintenance.Those likely to see their trade income cut include manufacturers, owners of cybercafÈs, small retailers, barbershops and salons.Kenyans are also praying that the water levels in the dams do not drop further as this would make the...

In a crafts-room at Ahero Teacher’s Training College in Kisumu County, Rose Arianda sits on her spinning wheel threading a long piece of string from the mass of cotton balls around her feet as she hums along the rhythm of the wheel.All around her, the room is littered with workers on similar machines working with cotton fibre at different stages of production.The workers at the various rooms and spinning wheels are members of Nyando Cream, a community based organisation that is fast gaining popularity in the district.“Nyando Cream is an...

INTERVIEW. Despite efforts being taken by Tanzania to fight corruption, a number of international investors still regard the country as full of bureaucracy to do business in. Our Reporter Beatus Kagashe interviewed Tanzania’s ambassador to the US, Ms Mwanaidi Maajar, on what is being done to promote trade and attract investments and tourists from the world’s largest economy.What is the level of economic diplomacy between Tanzania and the USA?So far, the economic relationship between the two countries is smooth and this makes Tanzania to...

Legislation to extend AGOA's third country fabric provisions - currently set to expire at the end of September 2011 - has been introduced in Congress and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. The proposed legislation would extend a key piece of the AGOA legislation - considered critical for the garment inductry in a number of AGOA-beneficiary countries - to 2015 and thus allow producers to continue sourcing their fabric requirements from abroad. The matter is also considered urgent, as large international buyers plan their sourcing...

In the past year, Botswana’s textile exports decline sharply by 21.8%, whilst imports grew by 13.3%, despite Botswana industry being the main beneficiary to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).The Textile and Clothing Sector has contributed immensely to increased clothing and apparel exports to the US during the period 2001-2008. As a result, Botswana’s exports to the United States of America under AGOA rose from about US $ 2.2million in 2001 to about US $ 16.6million in 2008. But today, only one company, Carapparel, is...

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) passed as part of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 by the United States to facilitate export trade between US and sub-Saharan Africa is a programme that has come to question the very character of the Nigerian economy. It is one programme that has come to tell us, once again, that we are not doing it right.Concerned Nigerians have never stopped drawing attention to the lopsided character of the Nigerian economy which is largely dominated by oil and have argued over and over again the need for...

The demand for African foodstuffs in Europe and America is rising due to increasing number of Africans, particularly Nigerians who sojourn to these countries for the proverbial greener pastures. There are many small foodstuffs exporters in the West African sub region who depend on middlemen to export their produce in small quantities and sell to consumers or retailers running ethnic shops in the US and Europe. The volume of Nigerian export of foodstuffs to these countries is still on a very small scale considering the estimation of well...

Over a decade since the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), was signed into law in May 2000, African countries were given the opportunity to export to the lucrative United States (US) without any limits.AGOA ruled over US-Africa trade relations since 2000 with some measurable success. Exports to the US increased from US$ 23b in 2000 to USD 81b in 2008, and $64.3b in 2010. During that period, foreign direct investment (FDI) and employment also increased, with over 300 000 new jobs created in Africa.But despite these highlights, it is...

Shea Butter is coveted by global cosmetic companies for its amazing moisturizing properties. As an increasingly sought after ingredient in everything from soothing and nourishing hair and skin care products to lip balms and exfoliating creams - the benefits of shea butter are in high demand across the globe.The connotation of shea butter however is drastically different among the women of sub-Saharan Africa who harvest the nut of the Karite tree, from which shea butter originates. They are among the 1.2 billion people that live in extreme...

First Lady Michelle Obama’s recent trip to Africa has rekindled the high hopes that Africans had following the election of President Barack Obama. Obama’s election as president of the United States was received with great pride, joy and high expectations. Many saw this as a major turning point for improved US-Africa relations. There was particular hope that the new president, who has a direct link to Africa, the birthplace of his father, would be more receptive and understanding of the concerns of the African people. The expectations of...

The textile industry has provided employment opportunities to about 15 000 people in the country. This is contained in a report by the ministry of labour and social security portfolio committee on unfair labour practices in the textile industry, which states that these people were mainly from the rural areas. The report was tabled before parliament on June 30. Members of parliament were questioning the reported ill-treatment that existed in local textile factories, which are mainly concentrated at the Matsapha Industrial Site and have...

The honey sector has recorded an increase in honey production from about 500,000 tonnes to 600,000 tonnes between 2009 and 2010 harvesting seasons representing a 20 per cent increase.The increase has been supported by favourable weather pattern the country was experiencing especially in North-western, Western and Central provinces and production this year is anticipated to increase even further.Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) programme manager Macdonald Kayuna said the council would continue with positive growth and would ensure that desired...

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrived in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 23rd, and spent a full day on Capitol Hill in back-to-back meetings with U.S. congressional leaders, seeking to convince them to continue financial support for Liberia, thus enabling the country to become a U.S. post-conflict success story.The President’s message, in meeting after meeting, was that Liberia has made progress, but that there is still work to do, and this was not the time for the U.S. to reduce financial support to countries, like Liberia, on the...

Poverty and hunger are still widespread problems, but Africa's growing middle class is creating business and investment opportunities that are among the best in the world. With the right trade policy and development assistance, we can unlock the potential of a thriving private sector and lift millions from poverty.Six of the 10 fastest-growing economies of the past decade were in sub-Saharan Africa, The Economist recently found. And over the next five years the average African economy will outpace its Asian counterpart. From telecom to...

U.S.-Africa relations have certainly been on the front burner in recent weeks. On June 6, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan at the White House. The next day, President Obama also hosted Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Four days later in Zambia, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed participants at the closing ceremony of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. Designed to provide preferential treatment to 37 African countries deemed to be making progress in economic and...

Tanzania has adopted a special integration programme geared to boost trade and increase the volume of goods sold to the United States through the African Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa).Industry, Trade and Marketing deputy minister Lazaro Nyalandu made the revelation in Parliament yesterday when responding to a question by special seats Member of Parliament Riziki Omar Juma (CUF).The legislator had demanded latest fugures of the volume of trade under the Agoa initiative over the last year.In his response, Nyalandu said that the programme...

Tanzania started to use the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in February 2002, the deputy minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, told the House yesterday.He was answering a question from Ms Riziki Juma, (Special Seats – CUF) who sought to know when the country started implementation of Agoa and the revenue realised from goods exported to America as well as plans to ensure the country exported more goods.Mr Nyalandu said exports from Tanzania under Agoa realised a total of $13.4 million (about Sh20 billion) from 2002...

African countries eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) have decided that extending the duty free trade relations from the initial 2015 to 2025, will form a strong basis for their engagements with the US.African Ministers at the just-concluded AGOA 2011 Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, also demanded that the Third Country Fabric, a provision that allows least-developed African nations to make apparel using fabric from nations other than the US and African nations, extended from 2012 to 2025.Despite its great efforts,...

When Zambia Women in Mining chairperson Mary Lubemba heard that Zambia was selected to host the AGOA forum nine months ago, she saw countless opportunities for her association to finally access the American markets with their gems and crafts.Zambian gemstones are rarely purchased by Americans, who prefer finished products, which are mostly made in Asia from African stones.Expecting big links from America, Lubemba and her group was shocked to learn that actually the big saviour for the association has always been close to them –...

The African Ministerial Consultative Group meeting held in Lusaka on June 8th has accepted Ethiopia's offer to host the 12th Africa Growth and Opportunity Act Forum (AGOA) to be held in 2013. AGOA Forum meetings which bring together government officials, civil society representatives and business leaders from both the United States and Africa are held alternately in the United States and in one of the AGOA eligible countries in Africa. This year’s AGOA meeting was held in Zambia, and AGOA 2012 will be held in the USA. AGOA represents U.S....

China on Tuesday scorned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's suggestion that its influence in Africa could foster a “new colonialism” there, saying it too had suffered from colonialism.Clinton told a Zambian television show on the weekend that Africa must beware of “new colonialism”, as China expands its presence, and she offered the United States as a partner seeking to help African countries improve themselves.Clinton did not specify China as the target of her remarks, but her comments left little doubt that she had it in...

SECRETARY CLINTON: If I didn’t know any better, Minister Mutati, I’d say that you have a future in preaching. (Laughter.) My goodness, I thought he was going to take up a collection. (Laughter. Applause.)But I certainly agree with the message. It is the Africa AGOA Act. It is meant to stimulate all of the activities that the minister was referencing And it is, for me, a great pleasure once again to address the AGOA forum. I’m delighted that you’ve already heard from the leader of our trade efforts in the United States, Ambassador Ron...

Since the passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000, civil society organizations have strived to work closely with government and the private sector as partners to achieve the modest growth in trade volume, and closer trade ties between the United States and the eligible sub Saharan African nations. We have seen trade volume increase from $23.4 billion in 2001 to $64.3 billion in 2010, and hereby pledge our re-commitment to fostering increased US-Africa trade under AGOA, through trade policy reforms that will provide...

African countries want the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Third Country Fabric extended beyond 2015 and 2012 respectively to 2025 on a long-term and sustainable basis.African ministers from AGOA eligible countries, contend that the extension will create predictability for investors to devote to the region since the future of AGOA and the Third Country fabric provision had tended to make AGOA not investment friendly.Third Country Fabric Provision allows least-developed African nations like Uganda to make apparel using...

SECRETARY CLINTON: I didn’t realize I was walking right into the room. (Laughter.) Please, everyone, be seated and thank you so much for the very warm welcome. We’ve had already a wonderful day yesterday and today, and I think we will continue that streak. I want to start by thanking our ambassador, who is working very hard to strengthen the partnership between our two countries. And I am especially pleased to be here today – I ran up the stairs – (laughter) – especially pleased to be here with ministers of the governments and so...

The Zambian-American Chamber of Commerce has been launched.Delivering her remarks at the launching ceremony held in the Zambian capital Lusaka, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said "the United States will do what we can to help American and Zambian companies do business together.""We want to help work toward lowering trade barriers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the countries trade at a lower level than any region in the world," she added.Clinton said there were so many opportunities for growth within the region if...

United States trade representative Ron Kirk has described the just-ended African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum held in Lusaka as one of the most productive forums ever held in the recent past.Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kirk said the US government is looking forward to a strong continued partnership with all AGOA partners and hope to see the expansion of trade experienced in the past ten years.He said much progress has been made in expanding Africa’s exports not only to America, but also other markets in the...

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged African countries to lift trade barriers with the United States here Friday and voiced concern about China's aid and investment practices in Africa.The first US chief diplomat to visit Zambia since 1976, Clinton attended annual talks over a US preferential trade deal at a time when China has overtaken the United States as Africa's top trading partner."China's presence in Africa reflects the reality that it has important and growing interests here on the continent," Clinton said during a press...

A senior Kenyan government official said here Thursday that there was need for the U.S. government to relax the rules of origin requirements for African products under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative.The AGOA initiative came into effect in the year 2000 and provides for duty free entry of products from 37 sub-Saharan African states into the U.S. market. Theses countries were eligible to export about 6,000 products to the U.S. market duty free.But some of the countries have not been able to utilize the initiative...

African business leaders are meeting in Zambia for talks on how they can take better advantage of U.S. trade preferences. The Obama administration wants Congress to extend those duty-free imports.In the 10 years of trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA], exports to the United States have grown from $23 billion to $64 billion.U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, said that has helped improve African business and African governance.“AGOA has made progress in creating jobs,...

The United States has announced that it will provide up to US$120 million over four years to intensify and focus more on the work of the USAID-run African Trade Hubs.United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in Lusaka yesterday that AGOA is proof of Africa’s strategic importance to the United States.“I am pleased to announce that the United States will support a new trade capacity building initiative, the African Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Initiative.“I can assure you that trade and investment are critical elements of...

Zambia President Rupiah Banda has said that political instability in some African countries has led to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)’s goals of expanding economies not being realised.The President said that if political instability were to be avoided, African countries should strengthen the tenets of democracy as well as good governance practices.?Speaking when he officially opened the 10th AGOA ministerial conference in Lusaka yesterday, President Banda said there was need for the benefits of AGOA to trickle down to the...

African business leaders say the United States can do more to encourage investment on the continent. The Obama administration agrees. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to close a meeting in Zambia on U.S. trade preferences.The African Growth and Opportunity Act has been the cornerstone of U.S. investment on the continent for more than ten years. But the vast majority of goods imported duty free are textile and oil products.African producers meeting in Zambia want to diversify those exports and say the U.S. government can do...

African leaders must meet demands for better governance and take other steps if they want a program that allows thousands of products to enter the United States duty-free to continue, U.S. officials and Zambia's president said Friday.Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA, 37 countries that meet good government and business practice requirements can export thousands of products to the United States duty-free. Washington credits AGOA, which started in 2000 under former President Bill Clinton, with helping increase...

The International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC-SA) Wednesday called on the South African delegation to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) 2011 forum to use the opportunity to promote the country's manufacturing and beneficiation sectors.Established by the U. S. government in 2000, AGOA's central purpose is to strengthen trade between Washington and 37 sub- Saharan African countries.It provides African countries with trade preferences, which in turn makes it easier to export African products to the U.S..The 2011 forum,...

The 2011 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum takes place on Thursday and Friday in Lusaka, Zambia under the theme "Enhanced Trade Through Increased Competitiveness, Value addition and Deeper regional Integration."The 2011 forum also marks the 10th year that government officials, business leaders and civil society from African countries and the United States will convene to promote trade, business and investment opportunities that sustain economic development in Africa.AGOA, the centerpiece of the U.S. government's trade policy...

U.S. officials and business leaders have gathered here for a bout of soul-searching on how to lift trade and investment in Africa, underlining a broad recognition that American companies are trailing those from China and India in tapping the continent's economic opportunities.The meeting in Zambia has drawn one of the largest U.S. delegations to Africa in years. It includes U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrives in the capital Lusaka on Friday. She is the first U.S. secretary of state to...

USADF will engage in the 10th annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Lusaka today. USADF President/CEO Lloyd Pierson plans to participate in the 2011 AGOA Forum where government officials and business and civil society leaders will convene to promote trade, business, and investment opportunities throughout Africa.Across the continent USADF investments provide direct support to local community producer groups and small enterprises to create jobs, raise incomes and take advantage of local, regional and export market...

African countries grouped under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) must invest in energy to attract more industries that are able to add value to agricultural products that can meet US market standards.AGOA, which is expected to expire by 2015, is aimed at increasing access to U.S. market for over 41 Sub-Saharan African countries."We want Africa to invest in energy to attract investors who can build industries that are able to add value to agricultural products from Africa," says Connie Hamilton, Deputy Assistant United States...

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which is regarded as a favourable trade and investment policy introduced unilaterally by the US a decade ago, should be extend beyond its current 2015 deadline, but could also be enhanced, South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies said on Monday.He indicated that the legislation could also play a role in improving regional integration on the continent, which remained a “fundamental challenge”.Agoa, which was introduced a decade ago, aims to reduce barriers to trade,...

The US Department of State and the World Bank Institute are convening a knowledge exchange videoconference on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on June 7, 2011. The event will bring together business professionals and young African entrepreneurs to discuss how AGOA can support sustainable development, youth employment and help enhance investment in Africa through the enactment of responsible business practices.The United States Congress passed AGOA in 2000 to strengthen trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa...

From June 8-10, U.S. and African stakeholders will attend the 2011 U.S.-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, better known as the AGOA Forum, in Lusaka, Zambia. This event comes at a very opportune time, as both sides are looking to advance the U.S.-Africa trade relationship.*The United States is increasingly seeing its market share erode and commercial presence recede throughout Africa at the expense of industry expansion and investment from Brazil, China, India, and others. These countries are also increasingly becoming a favored...

The extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) beyond 2015 would greatly benefit the South African economy and would further enhance trade relations with the US, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) said this week.Busa will lead a business delegation from the automotive, agricultural and clothing sectors to Zambia next week for the tenth Agoa summit. Many African countries are expected to call for the scheme to roll over.Agoa currently offers preferential market access on 7 000 African product lines.In 2010, the US exported...

Local businesspeople under the auspices of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) will this month meet United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to pave the way for the southern African country to participate in the US's African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).Sources told businessdigest this week that the businesspeople would meet Clinton in Lusaka, Zambia, when she attends the four-day 2011 AGOA Forum, which commences in Lusaka next Tuesday."We are going to Lusaka to pave the way for Zimbabwe to participate in the...

The AGOA Forum that will be held in Lusaka next week will provide policymakers and business leaders an ideal opportunity to join forces and plan for the economic revolution in Africa, says US Ambassador to Namibia Wanda Nesbitt.Commenting on next Monday’s African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum that Zambia, Ambassador Nesbitt yesterday said the United States was ready to support African countries develop their economies through increased regional and international trade.US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, assistant secretary of state...

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia next month to discuss trade, development and other issues, a spokesman said Tuesday.Clinton, following a trip to the United Arab Emirates, will visit Zambia's capital Lusaka on June 10 for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Ministerial Forum, Clinton's deputy spokesman Mark Toner said."She will showcase this centerpiece of our trade policy with Africa and engage with government, private sector and civil society representatives from 37 different...