Rep. Karen Bass - Pictures from forum Cannon House event (during 2014 AGOA Forum)
Growth and Opportunity in Africa Forum
in coordination with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
Tuesday, August 5, 2014 [Please note - this event has concluded]
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Cannon Caucus Room (345 Cannon House Office Building)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Panel One
9:00 – 10:30 am
Moderator: Dr. Monde Muyangwa
Africa Program Director, Woodrow Wilson Center
H.E. Erastus Mwencha
Deputy Chair, African Union Commission
H.E. Sindiso Ngwenya
Secretary General
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
H.E. Amb. Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo
President of Commission
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Next Generation African Leaders: Discussion with a YALI Fellow
10:30 – 11:00 am
Moderator: Bernadette Paolo
President, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa
Hon. Sheryl Vangadasamy
Elected Representative, Seychelles National Assembly
Young African Leaders Initiative Fellow
Panel Two
11:00 – 12:30 pm
Moderator: Dr. Sharon T. Freeman
President & CEO, All American Small Business Exporters Association
H.E. Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping
Economic Affairs Commissioner, African Union
H.E. Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera
Secretary General, East African Community
Video
Read related news articles
Renewal of AGOA a benefit to both US and Africa
Following the conclusion of the US-Africa Summit in Washington DC last week, it is opportune to reflect on some of the outcomes for SA and Africa. On the eve of the summit, ministers of trade from those African countries that are eligible for the trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) called upon the US to seamlessly and timeously extend Agoa for at least 15 years, without conditions. This message was...
13 August 2014
14 years of AGOA: Why no real Africa intra-trade?
When President Bill Clinton signed the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) into law 14 years ago, he offered incentives for African countries to open their economies and build free markets, to move the continent from an aid dependency to a viable trading partner. That is why at their summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Washington, 50 African heads of states, including our own President Jacob Zuma, smilingly reminisced about how...
07 August 2014
African Union head cautions US on Africa
If the United States does not take more interest in Africa it is going to lose out, African Union commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Thursday. “It's in their advantage to know what's happening in Africa because if they don't come to the party eventually the party will happen without them,” she said in Washington. “Business people really know about Africa from the media and American media is not really kind on...
07 August 2014
US-Africa Leaders Summit: CEOs promise to push AGOA further
The United States House of Representatives on Wednesday hosted an event titled “A Dialogue With African CEOs” that brought together women and minority business owners, chief executives from across Africa and US and SME entrepreneurs. The focus of the panel discussion was to examine possible business partnerships between African business and government with their American counterpart through the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) that...
07 August 2014
US urged by Africa's leaders to extend AGOA trade programme
African leaders urged the US on Monday to renew a trade benefits programme giving duty-free access to billions of dollars of African exports for 15 years, saying it would help cement trade relations and boost development in sub-Saharan Africa. President Jacob Zuma, one of nearly 50 African leaders in Washington to attend a three-day summit, said the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) when it expired next year was one of...
06 August 2014
South Africa welcomes Obama's backing of AGOA
South Africa has welcomed the commitment by US President Barack Obama to support the continuation and enhancement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). Obama made the remarks at the US-Africa Business Forum in Washington on Tuesday. His backing of a new Agoa term came as a pleasant surprise to many, who have been waiting to hear Obama's position on the issue. US law makers are expected to vote on the renewal of Agoa when...
06 August 2014
Kenya: President Kenyatta's presence at US Africa summit 'expected to end frosty relations'
The US has recently cut down its embassy staff in Nairobi and also pushed back funding for various projects and programmes in the country. This has impacted negatively on business and stakeholders are hoping that President Uhuru Kenyatta's presence at the ongoing US-Africa leadership forum in Washington DC will end the frosty relations between Kenya and the US. "We hope the issue of lifting travel advisories will feature prominently. We are...
06 August 2014
Africa seeks technological partnership at US-Africa summit
Africa is looking to the United States for help modernizing industry and combating terrorism, according to the deputy chairman of the African Union (AU). Erastus Mwencha also said AU officials are negotiating with Washington at the U.S.-Africa summit to improve the trade framework in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to include investment opportunities for American businesses and investors as the U.S. Congress readies to begin...
06 August 2014
AGOA Forum: Nigerian Entrepreneur seeks removal of barriers on AGOA
An Abuja-based Agriculture entrepreneur, Mrs Esta Charles-Ayede, has urged the U.S Government to remove barriers inhibiting some African countries from fully utilising the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA). Ayede made the submission at a roundtable between local entrepreneurs in Abuja and the U.S Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. The discussion was held via a Digital Video Conference...
06 August 2014
Obama sees US opportunities in Africa
US President Barack Obama said the fast growing economies of Africa represent one of the greatest opportunities for the US to extend its commercial reach and doing so requires a concerted effort by business and government. The president highlighted $33 billion (R356 billion) in commitments to Africa: $14 billion in investments by companies including General Electric and Coca Cola, $7 billion in financing to promote US exports and $12 billion...
06 August 2014