Gov�t eyes beef exports to USA
Pauline Dikuelo | Friday July 28, 2017 15:29
The analysis is being conducted as part of the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) National Response Strategy in which the ministry has prioritised the export potential for Botswana beef and its products.
The study, which commenced at the beginning of this month and is expected to be complete by the end of August 2017, is conducted through the assistance of the Southern African Trade and Investment Hub, a US government agency.
Addressing Parliamentarians this week, the MITI Minister, Vincent Seretse said the roll-out of similar technical assessment as that of the beef sector will be done in other strategic sectors identified by the AGOA national response strategy.
“This process will entail identification of specific products for export under the potential sectors as well as ways of addressing goals and challenges that hinder Botswana to export to the USA,” he said.
The AGOA National Response Strategy has been finalised and endorsed by the ministry in consultations with the AGOA National Reference Group, which comprises stakeholders from government and the private sector.
The strategy has identified potential sectors for export to the USA market under the Act. It also includes an elaborate implementation matrix detailing specific sector based actions and activities to be undertaken for effective implementation of the strategy. All the activities, which are to be undertaken by the different stakeholders, have been costed.
According to Seretse, currently Botswana is not exporting any products to the USA market under the AGOA programme.
“My ministry continues to engage regional US government agencies for technical Assistance and Capacity Building Programmes to assist local companies to access the US market.”
He said this is necessary for a country to establish target export volumes and values.
AGOA requires detailed technical assessment of each identified export potential sector, in terms of establishing production capacity and competitiveness of the Botswana industry as well as the demand and requirements of the USA market.
The minister was responding to a question by Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Bogolo Kenewendo.
The MP wanted to know if the ministry has finalised the budget and matrix for the AGOA implementation as well as to state the export volumes and value through AGOA and the current exports in relation to the target and what is being done to achieve the target.
Late last year, a consultant tasked with establishing the country’s AGOA national response strategy suggested that Botswana should consider setting up an office to coordinate all AGOA activities in the country.