©Afreepress-(Lomé, le 08 août 2017)- More than 1000 participants coming from 38 African countries and US officials took part in the 16th forum of the “African Growth and Opportunity Act(AGOA)”, on Tuesday, 8th August, 2017. The meeting was about the trade partnership between the United States and Africa and its implications.

The AGOA was introduced in the year 2000 and has allowed for an increase in trade (excluding oil) between the United States and Africa bringing the number of products exported from Africa to US to an amount of $9.4 billion. Non-oil trade under AGOA surged or increased by 300% from $1.3 billion to $4.2 billion in 2001 and 2016 respectively. “The growth of these non-oil sectors permitted direct jobs in Africa”, said David Gilmour, US ambassador.

The organising committee of the forum was with the press on Monday to call, traders, agriculturalists and Togolese industrialists to grab these opportunities offered by the event, which could improve their productions and open the doors of the market for them. The forum which begins on Tuesday at the Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Février in Lomé, will allow delegates from the US and the 38 African countries eligible for AGOA to discuss ways to fortify their economic cooperation.

The AGOA forum will end on the 11th of August to pave way for the 1st Africa-Israel Summit to be hosted in Lomé, Togo in October.

Patricia I.