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Zambia: Regional integration important for trade, says CCA
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) has said regional integration is an important tool that can be used to further integrate goods and services and increase trade in the Africa Growth and opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum.CCA vice-president in charge of business development Timothy McCoy said for the American private sector, regional integration was important because it could be used as a foundation to determine the level of goods being traded in the region and internationally."A number of companies have taken keen interest in the progress of...
AGOA Forum to focus on infrastructure for trade
Trade-facilitating infrastructure development is set to emerge as a central theme of the upcoming African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum that will take place in Lusaka, Zambia, next month.The forum, which is assembling for the tenth time, could attract up to 800 African and US government, business and civil society leaders, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Trade Representative Ron Kirk.Convening under the theme ‘Enhanced trade through increased competitiveness, value addition and deeper regional integration’,...
Kenya: End of AGOA could destroy textile sector
Export Processing Zones Authority is considering other market alternatives should the Agoa window close.According to the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa IV) provisions, eligible sub-Saharan African countries are required to start using local materials or source from developing countries from September 2012 to qualify for the preferential treatment of its textile products.Currently, there are no restrictions of where countries get raw materials, with many relying on China and India.Kenya is expected to request for an extension next...
USTDA continues to forge partnerships within the AGOA Forum
United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will continue to forge partnerships within the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum and help develop infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa.The agency will also help diversify the agriculture support programme, which started last year.USTDA director Leocadia Zak said the agriculture programme, which was started last year under AGOA, was a success.Addressing African journalists through telephonic briefing at the American Embassy in Lusaka, Ms Zak said one of the biggest constraints of...
Zimbabwe: No progress in improving human rights - US official situation
Zimbabwe is still not eligible for benefits under the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) because it has not made any progress in promoting the rule of law and political reforms, a senior United States official said last week.Responding to a question during a teleconference on Tuesday, deputy assistant US trade representative for Africa Constance Hamilton said America would not remove economic sanctions against Zimbabwe until there was a definite move towards democracy.“State department officials said that as long as human rights...
Obama Administration wants Africa Extension Act extended to 2025
The Obama administration wants to reauthorize the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in 2015, through 2025, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says, citing the measure’s success in enhancing trade levels between the United States and the African continent.Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington May 13, Carson said AGOA “remains the centerpiece of our trade and investment policy with Africa,” and has “made progress in creating jobs,...
US government discusses AGOA extension
The United States (US) government is discussing with members of Congress on the proposed extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the third country fabric clause and the admission of Africa's youngest country, southern Sudan.And the AGOA eligible countries have been advised to ensure regional economic integration approach since national markets were too narrow for the US investments and exports.Deputy assistant US trade representative for Africa, Constance Hamilton said the US office of African affairs took the calls for...
AGOA: Experts want AGOA clause extended
Experts at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) mid-term review meeting have recommended for the extension of third-country fabric clause for 10 years and called on America to support Africa on matters of Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (PSP). During the meeting on Wednesday, the technocrats said the third country clause in the AGOA which is scheduled to expire in 2012 should be extended because without it would have devastating effects on the African counties. The officials said this during a meeting held at the Mulungushi...
Kenya seeks new market for EPZA goods
Kenya will be seeking an alternative market for its apparel products should the US Government fail to extend African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provisions next year, the newly appointed CEO at the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), Dr Richard Mutule Kilonzo, has said.The present provision that allows lesser-developed AGOA countries to import textiles from outside the AGOA group to make clothing destined for the US is set to expire in September next year."Even though we are going to lobby to have the provisions extended, we must...
Oil still dominates African trade, with talks ahead
A womens' sewing project in Liberia, craftsmen in Ghana carving wooden stools and specialty food exports from Swaziland are perfect examples of the Obama administration’s efforts to bolster trade ties with African nations, says deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.But despite a decade of trade and investment under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, the real driver of trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan economies, which surged 32% between 2009 and 2010, remains oil.The U.S. has struggled to catalyze economic growth in...
Sub Saharan agri exports low
Agro related Exports from Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act -AGOA - only accounts for one percent.Acting Commerce Permanent Secretary, Lubasi Sakwiba has attributed the poor performance of agricultural products export into the United States market to stringent and lengthy Pest Risk Assessment which is complicated.Mr. Sakwiba says this has discouraged a number of African Small Scale Farmers in taking advantage of the AGOA initiative.He says in order for Africa to benefit from the AGOA process,...
Zambia: AGOA Ministers push for better deal with US
African countries yesterday called for a better deal with the US over the 10-year-old Africa Ministers conference on the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).They felt the trade preference pact should benefit Sub-Saharan countries better.Speaking at the opening of the AGOA commerce ministers' mid-term review meeting in Lusaka yesterday, the African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and host Zambia said the preference trade deal needed...
Botswana: Batswana entrepreneurs fail to use AGOA
The inability of Batswana entrepreneurs to take advantage of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) despite incentives provided in the textile and clothing industry was a focus point of a debate at a discussion form for women entrepreneurs Thursday.“Although lack of access to credit poses a major challenge to many entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, a more fundamental problem has been their lack of exposure to business planning tools and models which would strengthen their case for credit,” said Banny Molosiwa, Permanent Secretary...
Botswana: Women entrepreneurs sharpen AGOA readiness
More than 60 Botswana women entrepreneurs convened on Thursday to sharpen their competitive offerings and better access export markets such as those provided by the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA). Organised by the American Embassy through the Southern Africa Trade Hub in conjunction with Women in Business Association, the seminar encouraged entrepreneurs to network and use each other's skills in order to better prep their products for the American market.Entrepreneurs from sectors such as textiles, agribusiness and handicraft...
Tough US quality checks lock out Kenya flowers
High cost of transport and stringent quality standards have locked out most of Kenya's fresh produce from the American market in spite of the decade old preferential export window extended to African countries, market players say. Flowers, vegetables, and fruits are allowed duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), but market players said high cost of getting their goods to the market has confined them to Europe. Kenyan exporters said the US was a “volumes” (mass) market whose buyers place...
Africa needs own narrative on future relations with US
The Africa policy community in Washington is abuzz with debate over the future of trade relations between the US and sub-Saharan Africa.Early in June, the US and African Trade ministers and business leaders will be meeting in Lusaka at the 10th summit of The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum.Agoa is a law enacted under President Bill Clinton in 2000 and enhanced by President George Bush in 2005 to increase US trade with, and investment into, sub-Saharan Africa. This law is set to lapse in 2015.Agoa has allowed for some...
'Real changes needed in policy and implementation'
Zambia has enjoyed economic growth of around six percent per year over the past decade, says Patrick Mucheleka, but the government is failing to translate this into social and economic development for the majority of citizens. The upcoming conference on least developed countries in Turkey offers an opportunity to recalibrate the country's approach to development.Mucheleka, who heads Civil Society for Poverty Reduction, a network of more than 140 pro-poor develompent organisations in Zambia, says the economic growth figures have to be...
Ghana's governance credentials lauded
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Mr. Daniel W. Yohannes, has lauded Ghana for meeting the benchmark on good governance to qualify for a second compact under the Millennium Challenge Accounts (MCA).Ghana has already benefited from $547 million from the US government under the MCA for some development projects, including the ongoing dual NI highway that connects the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to the Mallam Junction in Accra.The compact deadline for Ghana is scheduled for February 2012, but Mr....
AGOA: Glimmer of hope is not always a life boat for any stressful situation
There seems to be a great tendency to grasp at straws in times of economic stress; to laud anything that appears, on the basis of superficial analysis, to provide a glimmer of hope.And when the hope collapses in the face of reality, little more is heard of the source of the initial optimism.The government and most of the trade union leaderships have, all too frequently, been guilty of behaving in this way.Not that there is probably any malice involved, just wishful thinking, perhaps a genuinely mistaken belief or some self-serving and...
Kenya: New input rule threatens textile exports to US
Uncertainty has engulfed the future of Kenya’s preferential exports window to the US as the market entry rules are set to change.The ‘third country rule’ of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which allowed countries such as Kenya to export goods made of raw materials from outside national borders is set to expire in September next year, locking out Kenya’s textile from the US market.Agoa allows the export of about 6,500 products from Africa into the US without paying duty or being subjected to quota restriction.“Lapse...
AGOA to build capacities for Africa
An expert in Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has said the export of non-petroleum products to the US under the Act is rising and efforts are underway to help build capacities of African countries in coming up with exports from various sectors.Daniel Yohannes from US said although the oil export to USA under AGOA has continued to dominate at about 90 per cent, other products are recording increasing levels.He said there was progress in exports of goods outside oil which was good for Africa in penetrating the vast USA market.Mr...
Zambia increases agriculture exports to United States
A senior Zambian government official said African countries should increase agricultural exports to the United States if the countries were to benefit from the market preference under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Friday.Felix Mutati, the Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said that meeting the huge demand in the U.S. market was a challenge for many countries, adding that the agro-producing countries should consider consolidating their products.“Countries need to put their...
Assistant Trade Representative dispels myths about AGOA
There are many myths and misconceptions about the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), says Florizelle Liser, the assistant U.S. trade representative for Africa.On April 15 Liser was among a panel of experts at the Brookings Institution in Washington looking ahead to the 10th annual U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Forum (the AGOA Forum), scheduled for early June in Lusaka, Zambia. Other panelists included Stephen Hayes, president of the Corporate Council on Africa, and Felix Mutati, Zambia's minister of commerce, trade and...
AGOA envoys should consider investing in Africa
The more than 300 investors from the United States of America (USA) who will be in Zambia for the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum this year should consider investing in Africa.Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said the American investors should be lured into investing in Africa as the continent offered a bigger market.Mutati, who is the 10th AGOA forum chairperson, said AGOA should not only be seen as an opportunity for African investors to penetrate the American market but as an opportunity for American companies...
Zambia: Rethinking AGOA summit
As Zambia awaits to host the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum this year on June 8 and 9, it is hoped it would rejuvenate trade between Zambia and the US under AGOA.Trade between Zambia and the US has increased to about US$1.4 million in 2010 from $121,000 as recorded in 2009.Consequently AGOA to mostZambian businesspersons has been interpreted as a commodity export stimulus package for Africa, giving it an opportunity and gate way to earn US dollars by trading with the US.Hence AGOA has been cast as a commodity based...
Zambia: 'AGOA flaws redeemable'
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) structure has flaws which eligible African countries intend to address so that the continent gets more benefits, Commerce, Trade and Industries Minister Felix Mutati has saidMr Mutati, who is 2011 AGOA forum chairperson said African countries had decided to come together to put across their grievances.He said some of the bottlenecks surrounding the AGOA were presented to the USA Congress during the meeting last week in the US.He said African countries would next month meet in Lusaka to come up...
Malawi officials in Miami to discuss trade opportunities
A trade delegation from the African nation of Malawi recently visited Miami for talks with government and business leaders. Miami-Dade County Commission Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson and members of the Miami-Dade Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) hosted the visitors on April 1 at the Stephen P. Clark Center in downtown Miami. The meeting was part of Miami-Dade’s long involvement in working to strengthen trade and cultural ties with the African continent, according to a county statement. According to the...
Nigeria: Free trade zones scheme are vehicles for industrial development
The Federal government has promised to continue to encourage Free Trade Zones scheme as vehicle for developing industrial potentials of the country and the utilization of local contents as well as inducement of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, said the Free Trade Zones scheme has generated millions of employment, encouraged technological transfer and value addition as well as drastically reduced youth's restiveness in the Niger Delta.While reviewing the progress of the Commerce...
Zambia: Egyptian company tips govt on US market
An Egyptian paper manufacturing firm, Mintra, has urged Zambian companies targeting the United States (US) market to make their products environmentally friendly as it is a major attraction for the Americans.Mintra export manager Osama Mounir said in Lusaka at the Zambia-Egypt Business Forum and Exhibition that it was vital that goods manufactured for export to the US market met high quality standards and were also environmental friendly.He said there were massive campaigns across the world about preserving the environment.Zambia would this...
Ethiopia: US clothing brands to scout for local producers
Amid increasing demand from the international market, Ethiopia is preparing to become the new frontier for the textile and apparel industry. Many buyers from the United States (US) are looking for local suppliers of new apparel fabrics.With the support of USAID’s Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Programme (COMPETE), it is planning to invite four buyers from the US retail market to Ethiopia. They previously focused on working with the textile and garment industries in China, but due to the increasing cost of cotton on the world market,...
Zambia: Set up lab, certification centre, US urged
The United States (US) should set up a laboratory and a product certification centre in Zambia to ease export under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), local economic analyst, David Punabantu has said.Mr Punabantu said yesterday that the local producers on the other hand should improve on both the quality and quantity of their products to be able to meet the requirements.In an interview in Lusaka, he said the Americans were strict about the quality of any product, hence the need for a laboratory in the country to ascertain the...
African countries 'still need AGOA'
More must be done to highlight to US lawmakers the significant contributions made by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expires in 2015, to the South African economy, lobbyists said this week.Agoa grants duty- and quota-free market access for more than 7000 products to qualifying countries in sub-Saharan Africa. While Agoa's success is often questioned due to the dominant role that oil still plays in the export mix, the legislation has assisted the development of several other industries on the continent. In particular, it...
Zambia: AGOA remains relevant to drive export growth
For the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to remain relevantand continue to drive export oriented growth, there should be a pushto promoting United States (US) private sector investment in Zambia.AGOA is a key tool which creates tangible incentives for Africancountries to implement economic and commercial reform policies thatcontributes to better market opportunities and stronger ties betweenSub Saharan Africa and the United States.The forum will create an opportunity to promote a high level dialogueon trade and investment related...
Botswana: Textiles off to a brisk 2011
The country's textile sector kicked off 2011 with a measure of recovery, compared to its performance since the recession, with preliminary data indicating exports of P119 million for January.Last month's exports are the sixth highest in 22 months, a period during which the textile sector nearly collapsed under the weight of the recession, stiff competition from Asian rivals and reduced support from Southern African Customs Union Duty Credit Certificates.During the period, the sector shed more than 70 percent of the 8, 000 jobs it boasted...
Updates on the AGOA Forum 2011
AGOA.info will be providing updates on the annual AGOA Forum, to be hosted by Zambia at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka from June 7 to 10, in this news item. This is aside from regular new items appearing in the media in the weeks leading up to the event.[Update 06-06-2011The Official opening of meeting of Senior Officials takes place today, June 6, 2011 at 09:00 hours at the Mulungushi International Conference Center.[Update 05-06-2011The Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum Secretariat has commenced the...
AGOA Forum 2011: How can Zambia benefit?
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on 18th May, 2000 as a component of the Trade and Development Act 2000.The Act seeks to enhance trade and investment between the United States and Africa by providing for one way trade preferences to products originating from eligible AGOA countries.AGOA builds on the existing Generalized System of Preferences program to allow eligible AGOA countries to export over 6,000 eligible products to the United States...
Zambia: Marketing Institute optimistic about June AGOA meeting
The Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) says the planned AGOA meeting may trigger fresh investments into the country.Zambia will host this year’s Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) conference between June 6 and June 8.The conference is aimed at enhancing market access to the United States by eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export some products on duty-free and quota-free basis.Commenting on the planned conference, ZIM president David Kombe said the initiative offers the country an opportunity to boost its trade and attract...
Zambia gearing up for African-US trade talks
It is more commonly known as the AGOA Forum - named after the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the US law that allows tariff-free entry into the American market for up to 6500 products from 39 Sub-Saharan African countries.The forum periodically brings together African business people, government leaders and civil society groups and their American counterparts for discussions on trade, investment and the enhancement of free markets. The focus is always on further measures the US and sub-Saharan African nations can jointly take to...
Zambia-2011 AGOA Forum: Clinton to attend 2011 AGOA Forum in Lusaka
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 at the weekend, USA Embassy in...
Last frontier for business 'increasingly abandoned by US Dept of Commerce'
Less than two years ago, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama made headlines as they landed in Accra, Ghana. The July 2009 visit was historic, coming only months after Obama was sworn in as our first African-American president. For some Americans, media coverage of the trip was a wake-up call that showed Africa as a coveted partner for businesses from South America, Europe, the Middle East, India and, especially, China.Responding to text messages submitted by Africans, the president recognized Africa's strategic and long-term...
Kenya: Business picks up in EPZ but energy costs high
Business at the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is steadily picking up after exports were bit by the global financial crisis, a report by the EPZ authority shows.The report indicates that 100 local and foreign companies ploughed in Sh 22.6 billion in investments in 2010 a 5.4 % increase in investment as compared to the previous year.Out of the total companies spread across the country 54.7% are foreign owned and came in to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that gives countries incentives to open up their economies...
Zambia: AGOA - it's make or break for country
Zambia will in June this year host a big international conference of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at which more than 1, 500 delegates from eligible countries, the United States and other stakeholders will be in attendance.As Zambia intensifies preparations for this once-in-a-while event, a high level meeting of ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and a committee of experts from the African Union (AU) member states held a weeklong meeting in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the AU and the United Nations...
Ethiopia building capacity to maximize benefit from AGOA
Ethiopia is building its capacity to maximize benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) opportunities that the United States provided to African countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, U.S.A. Affairs Directorate Director with the Ministry, Ambassador Taye Atskesilassie said that even though AGOA opportunities allow African countries to export more than 6,200 products to the U.S.A. quota and tariff free, Ethiopia is not benefiting as some African countries from the opportunity.He...
Ghana: Free Zones a good decision for the country
he Minister for Trade and Industry Hanna Tetteh has described the decision to establish a Free Zone in Ghana, as a very wise one by the NDC administration under former President Jerry Rawlings.Miss Hanna Tetteh made the statement when she together with the American Ambassador to Ghana Donald Teitelbaum opened Lucky 1888 Mills, LLC a leading global manufacturer of home and commercial textiles catering for the retail, hospitality and healthcare markets worldwide.According to the minister, when the act was passed there were lots of concerns as...
US-Uganda trade forum set for March
Uganda will this month host a forum on trade and investment that will showcase the country’s various business opportunities, the Uganda Investment Authority has said.The conference dubbed, United States –Uganda Trade and Business Forum, is the second of its kind and a follow-up of the first business forum which was held in Chicago, United States in 2009.Ms Doris Mitti, the UIA deputy director, communications said the forum will offer fresh perspectives on how businesses can create sustainable growth and add value while capitalising on...
Zambia hasn’t taken full advantage of AGOA, says ZDA expert
Zambia has not fully taken advantage of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act due to supply side constraints, says Zambia Development Agency export and market development expert Moses Simemba.Zambia’s export figures to the USA under act, including the General System of Preferences (GSP) provisions of the USA law, rose steadily from US$361,000 in 2006 to US$10.9 million in 2008 and decline thereafter, with an export figure of just US $121,000 in 2009.Addressing the media on Zambia’s AGOA experience, Simemba said Zambia had previously failed...
Liberia: US trade delegation in country
A high power United States Trade Delegation, headed by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, arrived in Liberia on yesterday on a four-day visit.The American Trade Delegation is in the country to acquaint itself with trade relations between Liberia and the United States.While in the country, the delegation will hold talks with high-ranking Liberian Government officials and host a one-day forum today on “U.S.-Liberia Trade & Investment Relationship.”The forum will be held at the U.S. Embassy’s Public Diplomacy...
Bilateral trade between US and Ghana grew by 48 per cent in 2010
Bilateral trade between the United States (US) and Ghana grew by 48 per cent in 2010, reaching nearly $1.3 billion.This consisted of diverse exports, such as cocoa, vegetables, machinery, and vehicles.Mr Demetrios J. Marantis, Deputy United States Trade Representative (DUSTR), who announced this, said US investment in Ghana was valued at nearly $1 billion and likely to increase, as new economic opportunities materialise and bilateral links multiply, including the recently inaugurated direct flight link between Accra and Washington D.C.He was...