Stakeholders to the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum which officially closed in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka have called on African countries to expedite regulatory and policy reforms that foster private sector development, encourage domestic and foreign direct investment.
The Stakeholders from the US and 37 eligible African member countries also urged the US private sector to invest in Sub Sahara African (SSA) countries, and to help create demand in the US- African products .
This is contained in a Communique issued by the Civil Society Forum to the 10th AGOA Ministerial Forum and delivered to Journalists by Commerce Permanent Secretary Buleti Nsemukila shortly after the official closing of the high level meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday
ZANIS reports that the stakeholders called on SSA governments to reform their investment polices to encourage both domestic and foreign direct investment through public private partnerships and manufacturing plants in Africa.
The Communique further said AGOA Countries called for the diversification of Imports under the initiative from eligible
countries to include products by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from various sectors.
Meanwhile, The Civil Society Forum has further recommended to the United States to facilitate a frame work under AGOA for empowerment of young African business professionals and entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship, skills development, Knowledge exchange mentorship and internship progrmmes .
They called on SSA governments to undertake assessment regarding trade and gender , specifically women and gender to provide support to women through Skill enhancement and access to finance adding that this will ensure that opportunities for women in trade are maximised.
They further called upon United States government to consider extending the third Country Fabric provision from 2012 to 2015 and the AGOA provisions beyond the current dead line.
The forum also applauded the US administration ‘s recent commitment to working with the Us congress on extending the third fabric provision to 2015 and urged the Us to extend both AGOA dead line and the third fabric countries provision to 2025.
The 10th AGOA forum which closed today brought together civil society, private sector, young professionals and entrepreneurs who are important to the sustainability of Sub-Africa’s development process.
Zambia and the US governments were also commended for facilitating the process.
ZANIS
As the saying goes “If it is to be, it is up to me”. Ultimately, that’s the mental attitude that will propel us forward and cause our Country Zambia along with sub-Sahara Africa to truly become the new emerging economy of the world.
In an innovation driven global economy, isn`t it surprising that there is no mention of investment in innovation at this conference? And yet what is hold African countries from achieving meaningful development is the lack of innovation in key sectors and institutions. And top on the agenda at major conferences around the world today is innovation.
Trade is not selling crafts to America. Real trade is export of Agro products and need to invest in manufacturing. I remember in 1997 a wore a shirt “Made in Zambia” But these days we have no textile or any manufacturing due to bad policies. We can use copper to manufacture a lot of IT staff also develop our own IT industry and also match the global technology.
@#1 You’re so right! @#2 Who is stopping you from been innovative? Are you waiting for someone else to be innovative for you? @#3 Take the lead. Do whatever it takes for you to bring back the made in zambia labels.
What I’m trying to put cross is, let’s not sit and wait for others to do our work. It’s up to all of us to develop our land. Take a trip to Solwezi and see how ordinary individuals, both Zambian and foreigners have taken issues in there own hands and created thriving enterprises feeding into the mining industry of the area. Study the AGOA business and see where you as an individual can excise your talent.
Can someone tell me where I as an individual or a newbie entreprenuer can access the kind of capital funds that would make me an effective AGOA player? Exporting to the US requires a huge capital base for one to meet or the costs, let alone standards. No one is telling us how we can access such funds, affordably. My point (@#4) is give me capital and I will be innovative and will bring the ‘made in zambia’ label back.