20th AGOA FORUM SITS FROM 02 TO 04 NOVEMBER 2023 IN SOUTH AFRICA

A poster depicting AGOA 2023 (picture credit: sourced online)

Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze - Publishing Editor

The 20th Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum shall sit from 02 to 04 November 2023 in Johannesburg ,South Africa. The 2023 forum's theme is ,"Partnering to Build a Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive AGOA to Support Economic Development, Industrialization and Quality Job Creation" according to the AGOA website (agoa.info).

The AGOA forum according to the AGOA site (agoa.info) is a creature of the original AGOA legislation which on section 105 instructs the USA President to convene “annual high-level meetings between appropriate officials of the United States Government and officials of the governments of sub- Saharan African countries in order to foster close economic ties between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa”. The forum's hosting alternates between the USA and the beneficiary African countries.

In a press conference hosted by the South African minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel on the 26th October 2023 it was revealed that the forum in Johannesburg shall have delegates from AGOA eligible countries ,business leaders and Labour leaders. The minister further announced that there were around three hundred and sixty (360) delegates from the USA business sector, eighty (80) trade union or labour delegates and around five hundred and twenty (520) companies will exhibit their products at the forum.

Minister Patel further revealed that the 2023 forum will feature the following events; a forum for trade ministers, a labour or trade union forum, a civil society forum ,forum on competition policy, trade administration, technical standards and developmental finance, an industrial products exhibition, an African cuisine and beverages, A display of African history, films and music, Official dinners and VIP lunches organised by the South Africa Government, A closing reception organised by the USA government and possible community visits.

African countries that are not expected to take part in the AGOA forum because of not being eligible for AGOA ,according to the AGOA website (agoa.info) ,include Burkina Faso, Burundi , Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Seychelles, and South Sudan.

More reporting about the forum shall follow.

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