USA-AFRICA EXCHANGES: OPENING IN ABIDJAN IN COTE D'IVOIRE OF THE 18TH AGOA FORUM

His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, who opened the work of this 18th edition, invited participants to identify quotthe ways and means of strengthening and developing the commercial opportunities offered by AGOA in order to generate inclusive growthquot for the countries Africans. Preferential access of African products to the US market, he said, has increased the levels of trade between the United States and African states by quotmore than 70% over the period 2010-2013quot. . According to him, these efforts must be continued in order to significantly increase the volumes of trade on both sides, given the opportunities and potential of this partnership which has lasted for two decades. On the sidelines of this ministerial forum, in Abidjan, sectoral activities took place. They are: - AGOA CSO Network, for civil society, which saw the participation of Professor LY Ramata BAKAYOKO, Minister of Women, Family and Children. - AGOA Private Sector (CCA), framework for exchanges of private sector actors, with Mr. ESSIS ESMEL Emmanuel, Secretary of State in charge of private investment. In addition, the United States has signed with the African Union, represented by its Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchuanga, a protocol for the purpose of quotworking togetherquot with the continent to quotdevelop the Zleca (Zone African Continental Free Trade Agreement)”, to support the full implementation of the Zleca project. The AGOA (African growth opportunities act) notably allows several products from sub-Saharan Africa to benefit from preferential access to the American market. The change for the future partnership aims to move from the preferential system to possible “bilateral and reciprocal agreements”. AGOA has spurred “a 500% increase in African exports to the United States over the past decade and created nearly 1.3 million jobs”. It provides for the organization of regular frameworks for discussions and exchanges between the African and American parties. This forum, which brings together experts, the public and private sector, is held annually alternately in an African country and in Washington. This 2019 edition recorded 1,100 participants from 36 countries out of 39 eligible countries. Source: APA News