Nissan Patrol Nigeria assembly
OPINION: MAKING " MADE IN AFRICA " LAST managed to overcome these hurdles. Namibia, for example, recently became the first African country to gain eligibility to export boneless( not ground) raw beef products to the US. There is no doubt that the AGOA has created important opportunities for the countries involved. But it will not last forever. Having been extended for another decade last year, it is now set to remain in force until 2025. In other words, countries have just nine years left to ensure that the industries that have grown under the AGOA not only survive, retaining the thousands of jobs that have been created, but continue to grow.
Given that Africa now accounts for just 1 % of America’ s $ 350 billion textile and apparel market, there is plenty of room for expansion. But competition will be fierce. If the US eventually ratifies the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, countries like Vietnam could erode Africa’ s share of the US market in textiles and apparel.
The key to success for African countries will be to strengthen the skills base and build competitive industries in the textile and apparel sector. A country that could emerge
as a key player is Ethiopia, which for the first time was named as a possible global sourcing destination in a 2015 McKinsey survey of 40 global chief procurement officers. The challenge for Ethiopia – and for other African countries – is to raise its status from sourcing option to business priority.
To do so, countries should take the invaluable lessons provided by the AGOA to stimulate their export industries’ growth and seize market share not just in the US, but also in other economies, including within Africa. In fact, the AGOA has helped enhance intra-African trade by enabling producers in different countries to create new, cross-border value chains that benefit all. Botswana, for example, now exports leather to South Africa, where it is processed into upholstery for luxury cars and exported to the US.
The African Development Bank also has a role to play, particularly in infrastructure development. By promoting regional integration, improved infrastructure can enhance trade and support skills development. Here, the AfDB’ s Industrialize Africa strategy, which emphasizes regional value chains, will be particularly valuable, as it recognizes the opportunities that industries in one country can provide to those in neighboring economies.
At the same time, the AfDB must continue working to help meet demand for trade finance in Africa, currently estimated at $ 120 billion, with a focus on export-oriented small and medium-size enterprises( SMEs). Important strides have already been made. The AfDB’ s Trade Finance Program, established in February 2013, has so far supported more than 85 domestic banks in 27 African countries, catalyzing approximately $ 3.4 billion in trade in vital sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction, and energy. More than 60 % of the transactions involved SMEs.
At last month’ s Ministerial AGOA Forum, African trade ministers recognized the urgent need to plan ahead, committing to the creation of a task force to outline strategies for US-Africa trade and investment relations beyond 2025. This is a good start. But the clock is ticking, and Africa’ s AGOA privileges will soon be eliminated. We must be ready.
2016 | Business Times Africa 15