AGOA is the foremost trade and investment agreement between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Johnnie Carson and US Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk and other senior officials from the US government are scheduled to attend. The American delegation looks forward to learning more about African needs and discussing ways to advance the US-Africa relationship on trade and investment.

The United States Congress passed AGOA in 2000 to strengthen trade between the United States and those sub-Saharan Africa countries that meet eligibility in terms of a certain level of economic, legal, and human rights standards. Namibia is one of 37 countries currently eligible to export nearly 6 500 products to the United States duty-free, under the terms of the legislation.

American companies benefit when they invest in Africa or supply equipment and technical support to eligible African firms. In 2010 US exports to sub-Saharan Africa exceed US$17 billion while US imports from the region were greater than US$65 billion.

After more than 10 years, AGOA remains the centrepiece of America’s trade and investment cooperation with Africa. It is disappointing that Namibia has not yet capitalized on the trade preferences available. The annual AGOA Forum is an excellent opportunity for government officials and private business operators to interact with their US counterparts.

In addition to the African government delegations, this year in Lusaka, we anticipate a strong showing from the US and African private sector as well as representatives from civil society organizations. The forum provides a unique opportunity for government officials, international business people and civil society representatives to build relationships that lead to business deals.

We believe increased trade will equal greater prosperity for African nations and history has demonstrated this to be true. Africa has changed significantly since Congress passed the original AGOA legislation. Over the past 10 years, sub-Saharan Africa’s real GDP growth rate increased to an annual average of 5.7 per cent, second in the world to Asia.

Private forecasts indicate that African economies will grow at seven per cent per year over the next 20 years making sub-Saharan Africa the fastest growing region in the world after Asia.

Business publications and consulting companies frequently identify Africa as the new investment frontier.

At the same time, AGOA is more than just a trade preference program; in fact, it provides the US government and our African partners a platform to discuss key economic, commercial, and political issues. AGOA helps both African and US businesses create jobs.

One issue that emerged from previous AGOA Forum dialogs was the need to reduce barriers to trade amongst African countries. Increased regional commerce can unleash local economies to grow more quickly. While AGOA is meant to promote trade with the United States, it has also facilitated a high-level dialogue between the United States and African countries to knock down barriers to trade within Africa.

To help boost intra-African trade, the United States supports several Trade Hubs across the continent, including the Southern Africa Trade Hub based in Gaborone, Botswana.

Here in Namibia, the Trade Hub has collaborated with the government and the private sector to develop Namibia’s Investor Roadmap.

The Hub has also assisted the Walvis Bay Corridor Group and the Namibian government in their efforts to make the port of Walvis Bay and its associated transport corridors attractive transshipment route for SADC members.

One of the Trade Hub’s most significant contributions was the introduction of a single customs declaration form, which replaced up to 15 different forms previously used – along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC). These initiatives make doing business in Namibia and Southern Africa easier and thus more attractive to foreign and domestic investment.

The upcoming AGOA Forum in Lusaka will provide policymakers and business leaders an ideal opportunity join forces and plan for the economic revolution in Africa. Through AGOA and our support to the Trade Hubs, the United States stands ready to support Namibia and other African countries develop their economies through increased regional and international trade.

By Wanda Nesbitt. Ms Nesbitt is the US Ambassador to Namibia

Latest AGOA Trade Data currently available on AGOA.info


Click here to view a sector profile of Namibia'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)