South Africa: Minister Davies arrives in Washington ahead of AGOA Forum
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has arrived in Washington DC for the 15th Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum.
The AGOA Forum is an annual forum that takes place on an alternating basis between sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. The one-day forum will take place on Monday, 26 September.
The 14th forum was hosted by Gabon in 2015.
Under the theme, 'Maximising US-Africa Trade and Investment: AGOA and Beyond', the forum will focus on the implementation of AGOA utilisation strategies, as well as the US-sub-Saharan Africa trade and investment relationship beyond AGOA.
AGOA is a unilateral US trade preference programme that provides duty-free, quota-free treatment for over 6 400 tariff lines into the United States market. US President Barrack Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 that contained the AGOA Extension and Enhancement Act, which extended AGOA for 10 years until 2025 - with South Africa included.
Minister Davies said AGOA has changed the structure of trade between the US and sub-Saharan Africa from one based on primary commodities, to more value-added exports. He emphasised that AGOA supports Africa's efforts towards regional integration.
Prior to the forum on Monday, Minister Davies is scheduled to address a business meeting and also engage with investors doing business in South Africa.
"Minister Davies will participate in the African Ministers of Trade Consultative Group meeting, in which he will moderate a session on the future of the US-Africa relationship beyond AGOA.
"During the AGOA Forum, Minister Davies will co-chair a session on attracting investment to boost AGOA utilization," said the Department of Trade and Industry, on Thursday.