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
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up