Staff Reporter
SINCE 2017, the United States of America (USA) has provided direct support to Namibian firms, enabling them to access more than N$30 million worth of exports to the USA under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
This is according to the USA’s Ambassador to Namibia, Randy Berry, who said that Namibia has also seen an increase in exports to the USA over the last three years. He explained that this increase can be primarily attributed to charcoal exports to the USA by The Global Charcoal Company, which uses sustainably harvested Namibian wood. In addition to charcoal, Berry revealed that other top exports to the USA include agricultural products, chemicals, minerals, and metals.
Berry, therefore, encouraged Namibian businesses to explore how they can utilize the AGOA to increase sales, train more employees, and benefit communities. He explained that the United States (US) government supported Namibia’s Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade in developing the National AGOA Utilization Strategy in 2021 through a consultative process involving key sectors. However, the AGOA, which was signed into law more than two decades ago by former US President Bill Clinton, is set to expire in 2025.
“This is why the Biden-Harris Administration fully supports reauthorizing the AGOA, as the benefits of the legislation are set to expire in 2025. The U.S. Congress holds the pen on reauthorization, and we are committed to working closely with Congress throughout the process to ensure this legislation is impactful and relevant,” Berry said.
The ambassador emphasized that policy tools like the AGOA need to be continuously used, tested, and refined over time. This, he said, is the driving purpose of the upcoming 2023 AGOA Forum, taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2 to 4 November. According to Berry, the upcoming AGOA Forum presents a valuable opportunity for Namibia to enhance its economic engagement with the USA.
“Every year, the U.S. Trade Representative and trade ministers from every country that participates in AGOA come together to take stock of their work together and find opportunities to do more. This convening is an opportunity to gauge progress to date and perhaps more importantly, discuss if we can improve AGOA to better serve more Africans and Americans,” Berry explained.
Moreover, he added that the Forum serves as a catalyst for bringing together a broader community, including government officials, civil society leaders, labour representatives, and private sector investors. The goal of the forum is to identify ways to enhance trade between Africa and the USA to create better opportunities for both regions.
By providing duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 6,800 different products, the ambassador continued, the AGOA has helped create employment and new economic opportunities for many Africans, including women and youth.
“AGOA is an example of how we can use trade as a force for good. To maintain eligibility, countries must uphold several values that are core to free and fair societies—rule of law, respect for human rights combatting corruption, and protecting workers’ rights. In a nutshell, AGOA is intended to be a transformational tool to bolster inclusive prosperity across Sub-Saharan Africa, to include Namibia,” the US Ambassador to Namibia added.
