CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE AFRICA ISSUE 0024 | Page 50

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

AGOA 2013 to Sustain and

T

Transform through Trade and Technology
modernisation. In 2012, eligible countries exported nearly $35 billion in products to the United States under AGOA and its related General System of Preferences (GSP) provisions. Total exports under AGOA have risen more than 300 per cent since the programme’s start. Although petroleum products accounted for 84 per cent of AGOA imports to the United States in 2012, the programme has helped promote other, value-added exports such as vehicles, apparel, footwear, processed agricultural products and manufactured goods. Non-oil exports to the United States from sub-Saharan Africa totaled $4.7 billion in 2012, rising more than 250 per cent since AGOA’s inception. AGOA has helped many African countries — Lesotho, Swaziland and Kenya, for example — to create tens of thousands of new jobs and boost their international competitiveness.

rade has proven to be a powerful engine of growth, and the theme of the 2013 AGOA Forum is Sustainable Transformation through Trade and Technology. Private sector and civil society programmes took place in August 10-11, preceding the twoday ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 12-13. AGOA promotes economic development and expedites the integration of African economies into the world trading system. It provides a framework for governments, the private sector and civil society to work together to build trade capacity and expand business links between the United States and Africa. Increasing trade capacity involves technical assistance on world trade rules, Customs reforms and modernisation, development of industry standards and regulations, intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement and infrastructure

Since AGOA’s adoption, Mauritius’ exports to the U.S. have grown more than 400 percent. The textiles and apparel sector has grown annually at a rate of 5 per cent and leading non apparel exports have grown at an overall rate of 12 per cent since 2001, AGOA has contributed to an expansion of the apparel industry in Mauritius on a scale that the country likely would not have achieved otherwise. Women are key beneficiaries of AGOA. The African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP), started by the US State Department in 2010, is a network of women-led businesses that has been exporting to the United States under AGOA since 2010. Former finance minister Amos Kimunya with former Us Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger at the 8th AGOA forum in Nairobi Kenya. There are currently 152 members in 48 countries. AWEP companies trading under AGOA can be found in Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zambia in agribusiness, textiles, home décor, food processing and other sectors. AWEP entrepreneurs have played a critical role to ensure that gender issues are considered under AGOA. AGOA also supports regional economic integration and provides incentives for African countries to improve their investment climates, reduce corruption, respect human rights and the rule of law, improve infrastructure and harmonise trade standards to help them become more competitive in the global marketplace.

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THE CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE AFRICA FOR AUTHORITATIVE AND EXTENSIVE BUSINESS INSIGHTS
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