Maravi

Africa must focus on transportation facilities, energy - US

COMMENT - Translation: Africa must do what is in the interests of the oligarchs that rule the United States and 'the West'. They want our resources, and they need roads and energy to get them out. Securing Africa's resources for the oligarchs is the reason for the creation of AFRICOM.

Africa must focus on transportation facilities, energy - US
By Kabanda Chulu
Thu 14 June 2012, 13:23 CAT

AFRICAN countries must focus on developing energy and transportation facilities if they are to increase benefits from AGOA, says a senior United States government official.

In a teleconference with Zambian journalists on Tuesday ahead of the 11th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum on US-sub-Saharan Africa trade and economic cooperation, director of economic policy at the Bureau of African affairs, Amy Holman, who could, however, not give categorical answers to several questions asked, said the forum that started in 2001 has been the US government's signature trade initiative with Africa aimed at diversifying exports and expanding economic opportunities for Africans.

"AGOA aims at creating jobs and reducing barriers to trade and with 6,000 products receiving duty free treatment when exported to the US market. AGOA has helped generate hundreds of billions of dollars in trade and investment opportunities in its short lifespan," Holman said.

"To keep this momentum, this year's AGOA forum will focus on enhancing infrastructure development in Africa, which is a critical part of unleashing Africa's economic potential, including the tremendous intellectual, technical and business capital represented by Africa's youth, women and entrepreneurs."

And Director for African Affairs under the Office of the US Trade Representative Dean Coleman said AGOA provided a framework for improved access to US credit and technical expertise and establishes a high level dialogue on trade and investment.

"It is an integral component of the United States' overall trade with sub-Saharan Africa, increasing the two-way trade between the US and Africa to over US$95 billion in 2011, which is an increase from the US$13 billion recorded in 2010, thus bringing a total of US$716 billion in the two way trade since 2001," said Coleman.

The AGOA forum started earlier this month with a series of trade networking events and meetings aimed at linking African entrepreneurs and their US counterparts but the main conference will take place from June 14-15, and the Zambian delegation is led by commerce, trade and industry minister Bob Sichinga.

Labels: AGOA, ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT

posted by MrK @ 3:06 PM