. Dr Scott

From CHISHA MUTALE in Washington DC –

AFRICAN leaders attending the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC have called for the extension of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The Act, which is in its 14th year, is a crucial component to preserving trade ties between Africa and the United States of America, and is due for renewal in 2015.

Vice-President Guy Scott said that Zambia stood to learn and benefit from the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, particularly the AGOA forum where various issues of importance to the country’s economy were being discussed.

Speaking during an interview with journalists in Washington DC, Dr Scott said it was not a matter of having a treaty on the table but whether Zambia was benefitting from it or not.

Meanwhile, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga, who is also attending the meeting, said the AGOA forum met on the sidelines of the Summit to strategise a common position.

Mr Sichinga said there was need for Africa to agree on a common position with the US as AGOA was subject to renewal in September next year.

He said the Act, which was a voluntary programme set up by the American government under the Clinton administration, offered African countries free quota and duty-free access to the American market.

Mr Sichinga said there was need to identify the challenges experienced over the past 14 years and what solutions could be brought on board to improve the Act.

The minister further said that pertinent issues such as the need to improve infrastructure and power supply were critical to ensuring that finished products were produced.

AGOA is a non-reciprocal trade preference programme that provides duty-free treatment to US imports of certain products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Zambia, which stand to benefit from the trade opportunity.

AGOA has pulled together a high-level forum of leaders of entrepreneurs and leaders in business, government, civil society and the media to explore priorities for the US-Africa policy.

The leaders will also explore business strategies for economic growth and development, innovation, governance, and shifting perceptions of Africa to the rest of the world.-ZANIS