Author: FFDA Staff Published: 6/13/2023 AGOA
Alan Winde, Premier, Western Cape, South Africa
A delegation from the Western Cape in South Africa led by Premier Alan Winde and the AGOA Civil Society Network Secretariat and its members met with the Ways and Means Committee to advocate for a 10-year extension and enhancement for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to expire in 2025 and to strengthen U.S.-South Africa economic cooperation.
According to Premier Winde, the Western Cape economy benefits significantly from AGOA. A recent survey showed that the AGOA is particularly popular among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with 92% of SMEs viewing the United States as a priority market and more than 80% of SMEs indicating that AGOA has a significant impact on the sustainable growth of their business.
Western Cape is the 4th largest of the nine provinces and the 3rd largest economy in South Africa.
Mr. Oladeinde emphasized that the meeting is timely, following the 8th Annual AGOA Civil Society Organization Network Spring Conference of April 13, 2023, under the theme: Extending AGOA to 2035: Using Trade to Strengthen US-Africa Strategic Alliances, and the 7th Annual Spring Conference of April 19, 2022, under the theme: US-Africa Trade and Investment: Current Threats, Challenges and Opportunities, in partnership with the Embassy of The Republic of South Africa.
Read Mr. Oladeinde’s Entire Statement, click below:
The Western Cape Delegation, and the AGOA CSO Network and members meet with the Committee on Ways and Mean
Premier Winde and Fred Oladeinde
HEME: The Diaspora: Accelerating US-Africa Trade,Investment, and Technological Innovation.”
Stepping Back in time, we invite you to explore a significant video that captures a pivotal moment. The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, in partnership with the Interim African Union Commission held an event on December 17, 2002 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. This event marked the first African Union engagement with Civil Society Organizations and the Diaspora, focusing on the Future of Africa. The video, film by CSPAN, showcases the insightful discussions and exchange of ideas that took place, emphasizing the importance of unity, collaboration, and progress for the African continent.
Moving Forward, we invite you to join us at our Annual US-Africa Trade & Investment Conference/Expo, AfrICANDO 2023. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Diaspora: Accelerating US-Africa Trade, investment, and technological innovation.” We believe that the African Diaspora plays a vital role in fostering economic growth, enhancing trade relations, and driving technological innovation between the United States and Africa. AfrICANDO aims to bring together key stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs from both continents to explore opportunities, forge partnerships, and make a lasting impact on US-Africa trade and investment.
Whether you are interested in exploring investment opportunities, expanding your network, or staying updated on the latest trends and innovations, AfrICANDO 2023 is the place to be. It is just around the corner, and we encourage you to take advantage of the early-bird registration by June 30, 2023.
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