Topnews, International relations, South Africa
31. July 2014
PRESIDENT ZUMA TO LEAD SA TEAM TO US-AFRICA SUMMIT
The summit is expected to bring United States (US) and African business executives together to discuss investment and business opportunities in Africa.
President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to lead a delegation to participate in the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, under the theme: “Investing in the Next Generation”, from 5 to 6 August 2014.
There will also be side meetings for American and African chief executive officers and an African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Ministerial Meeting. These meetings are aimed at strengthening relations between US and Africa, particularly in trade and investment.
The envisaged outcomes are: the encouragement of regional integration on the continent; support for various African Union economic development programmes; peace and security, including the extension of AGOA; climate change and environment protection issues; and assistance to meet the Africa 2063 Vision goals.
AGOA, which enables 39 eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export most products duty-free to the US, has seen total African exports to the US more than quadruple, and US exports to sub-Saharan Africa more than triple, since its inception in 2000
In August, US Trade Representative Michael Froman told a two-day forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the US was looking to work with African experts and leaders on forging an improved "AGOA 2.0" before the expiry of its current version in 2015.
Around 43% of South Africa's exports, totalling to about $4,6 billion, have entered the US under the AGOA programme.
– Source: www.southafrica.info
Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/dircoenewsletter/newsflash126-31-07-2014.html