Ethiopia Urges Exporters to Take Advantage of AGOAThe Ethiopian government has called on local manufacturers and exporters to take advantage of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is being adopted by the United States (U.S.) government to foster trade with the sub-Sahara African countries, local press reported on Wednesday.Exporters should waste no time as Ethiopia has become eligible to export textiles and apparels to the U.S. as of August 2, 2001, Kassahun Ayele, Minister of Trade and Industry, was quoted as saying. The AGOA will enable Ethiopia to export textiles and apparels free of tax and quota until the year 2004, and will also grant 34 sub-Saharan countries to export up to 6,500 commodities to the U.S. market until 2008. The minister added that apart from providing access to American markets, the AGOA will also help Africa fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic, improve agricultural productivity and prevent desertification. A trade and economic cooperation forum between the U.S. government and the sub-Saharan countries will be held in October 2001 in Washington in the final bid to establish common free trade zone, the report said. Last Month, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Africa Rosa Whitaker paid a two-day visit to Ethiopia, aimed at enhancing its trade relations with Ethiopia in line with the AGOA. The U.S. government has been reportedly encouraging and assisting Ethiopia to share tangible benefits from AGOA in terms of capital, technology transfer and job creation. |
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