
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) considers
the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) to be the most important U.S. - Africa trade act
ever passed by the U.S. Congress.
2009 AGOA Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, August 3-6, 2009
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce,
will act as U.S. private sector coordinator for the 8th Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA) Private Sector Forum at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya from
August 3-6, 2009. The theme for this year’s forum is “Realizing the Full Potential of AGOA through
Expansion of Trade and Investment.”
Since its inception in 2001, CCA has been an active supporter of AGOA at all levels, from leading
AGOA Forum steering committee meetings to partnering with the State Department in its AGOA
Professional Development Program. CCA has played a central role on the American side in every AGOA
Forum.
Read more...
For more information on the AGOA Private Sector
Forum in Kenya, including registration requirements,
agenda, and suggested accommodation options, visit
www.agoaforumkenya.go.ke.
About AGOA
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was
signed into law by the U.S. on May 18, 2000 as Title
1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000. The Act
offers tangible incentives for African countries to
continue their efforts to open their economies and
build free markets. Participation in AGOA requires
that beneficiary countries commit themselves to the
establishment of a market-based economy, the rule of
law and policies to reduce poverty.
To learn more, visit
www.agoa.gov
The United States and Africa: Policy Recommendations
from the American Private Sector for the Obama
Administration
In March 2009, CCA released and issued a report from
the American Private sector to the Obama
Administration on future U.S. policy toward Africa.
The recommendations included strategies to expand
AGOA to include additional product coverage, and
provide infrastructure support to beneficiaries to
improve capacity and to produce a broader array of
AGOA–eligible products.
Read more>>
2008
Annual Report to U.S. Congress
The annual report to Congress provides an overview
of the U.S. trade and investment relationship with
sub-Saharan African countries, describes trade
capacity building and other technical assistance
programs in support of African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) objectives, and summarizes
developments in sub-Saharan African countries
related to AGOA’s eligibility criteria.
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In 2007 there were 40 sub-Saharan African
countries eligible for African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits, the highest
number ever
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In 2007, U.S. total exports to sub-Saharan Africa
totaled $14.4 billion, more than double the amount
in 2001
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While petroleum products accounted for the largest
portion of AGOA imports, non-oil AGOA trade
totaled $3.4 billion in 2007; more than double the
amount in 2001.
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CCA and its partners will convene the 2006 AGOA
Private Sector Forum in Washington, D.C. on June
5, 2006
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The annual Ministerial meetings between the U.S.
government and the 37 African countries eligible
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA), will take place in Washington, D.C. from
June 6-7, 2006
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Forum will focus on sectors where U.S.-Africa
trade can most easily and quickly be increased,
for example: agriculture, infrastructure,
manufacturing and apparel
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The forum will also emphasize project financing
AGOA: A Five-Year
Assessment Congressional Testimony by President Stephen Hayes, Oct. 20, 2005
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CCA
was joined by fellow co-chairs, the African
Business Roundtable and APIX, Senegal. The
Whitaker Group served as the Private Sector Forum
Secretariat
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CCA presented a synthesis on the findings of the
2005 U.S.-Africa Business Summit as these related
to AGOA to Private Sector Forum participants in
Dakar
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The annual Ministerial meetings between the U.S.
government and the 37 African countries eligible
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA), will take place in Washington, D.C. from
June 6-7, 2006
-
CCA and the AGOA Steering Committee held the 2003
Private Sector Session of the AGOA Forum on
December 8 and 9, 2003, in Washington, D.C.
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Focused on crucial policy questions confronting
AGOA, including the future of AGOA and how to make
AGOA more active in a wider number of sectors
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Workshops examined these questions in the
following sectors: agriculture and agribusiness;
handicrafts; and textiles and apparel
Other 2003 Activities
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CCA co-hosted the hugely successful AGOA Forum in
Mauritius from January 13-17, 2003.
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Keynote speakers included the U.S. Trade
Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick, Prime
Minister of the Republic of Mauritius Right
Honorable Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and a special video
address from the President of the U.S. George W.
Bush
The AGOA Professional Development Program
-
The
AGOA Professional Development Program (APD)
was a
state department grant administered by the Corporate
Council on Africa, consisting of six intensive study
courses on AGOA in the U.S. for 58 pre-selected
African business and public sector leaders. These courses
were followed by 16 workshops in Africa
that explained the benefits of AGOA to additional
African business and government leaders.
AGOA at the 2001 Summit
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In October 2001 CCA organized "AGOA at the Summit"
as part of its biennial U.S.- Africa Business Summit
featuring:
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Seven
AGOA focused workshops
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Speakers from the U.S. and African public and
private sectors such as Assistant Secretary of State
for Africa Walter Kansteiner, Assistant U.S. Trade
Representative for Africa Rosa Whitaker, Minister of
Trade of Mauritius Jayan Cuttarree and former
Chairman and CEO of Mast Industries/The Limited
Martin Trust
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At this year's
U.S.- African Business Summit,
CCA plans to have a whole workshop tract dedicated
to promoting AGOA and assisting in the
implementation of the Act
More Information on AGOA
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