mmegi

The rug beneath the Summit

A stitch in time: The textile sector used to be the chief AGOA sector for Botswana. The country is extending its focus to jewellery, meat, handicraft and others PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
A stitch in time: The textile sector used to be the chief AGOA sector for Botswana. The country is extending its focus to jewellery, meat, handicraft and others PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The deal-making and generation of leads at the recent US Africa Business Summit took place on a precarious foundation, namely the AGOA trade deal which expires next year. While delegates from both sides expect it to be renewed, no one yet is sure what the new AGOA will entail, writes MBONGENI MGUNI

Trade and Industry minister, Mmusi Kgafela, is closely following the progress towards renewing the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), the trade arrangement between the US and over 30 sub-Saharan African countries which provides relaxed access to the American market.

In December, Kgafela, his fellow ministers from Africa and senior officials were in Washington DC for the US Africa Leaders’ Summit where they met with various US authorities including members of Congress, raising the issue of AGOA’s expiry next year and the need for early commitments on renewal.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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