Harnessing Botswana�s AGOA Export Potential

Earl R. Miller
Earl R. Miller

The 2015 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum is being held in Libreville, Gabon, this week. The forum will provide an opportunity to celebrate the recent reauthorisation of AGOA, take stock of AGOA’s successes over the last 15 years and launch a dialogue on the future of U.S.-Africa trade.

Senior officials from the U.S. are in Gabon to meet with officials from 39 AGOA member countries, including Botswana, as well as business leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society members, and the private sector to discuss trade and investment. 

Originally enacted in 2000, AGOA is the cornerstone of U.S. economic engagement in Africa.  AGOA offers unilateral tariff free access to the U.S. market for Botswana.  AGOA makes it easier for Batswana businesses to sell their products in America while helping open markets in this country to American businesses.   AGOA also encourages economic and governance reform.  New AGOA legislation calls for promoting the role of women in social and economic development.  At this week’s forum, the African Women Entrepreneurship Program will conduct workshops on preparing female African entrepreneurs to enter the regional and global procurement supply chains.  

Editor's Comment
Closure as pain lingers

March 28 will go down as a day that Batswana will never forget because of the accident that occurred near Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa. The tragedy affected not only the grieving families but the nation at large. Batswana throughout the process stood behind the grieving families and the governments of Botswana and South Africa need much more than a pat on the back.Last Saturday was a day when family members said their last goodbyes to...

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