On August 10, the U.S. Mission in Kampala held a news conference with members of the media to talk about the strategic importance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), its extension until 2025, and how Uganda can maximize AGOA’s many benefits.

Ambassador Deborah R. Malac, joined by Margaret Waithaka from the East Africa Trade and Investment Hub and U.S. Embassy trade experts David Rogers and Omar Farooq, outlined the ways the United States is working with Ugandan government officials and businesses to develop a strategy that helps exporters take advantage of AGOA’s preferences, while maximizing Uganda’s own competitive advantages.

Ambassador Malac told members of the press that the U.S. government wants Uganda to increase its exports to the United States and to take advantage of U.S. markets as a means of accelerating the country’s economic growth.

“AGOA, which has been extended to 2025, is an important tool to help Uganda achieve its goal of becoming a middle income country. It is therefore important that the Ministry of Trade, Uganda’s AGOA office and the U.S. government continue their coordination and develop an AGOA national strategy,” said Ambassador Malac.

In collaboration with the East African Trade and Investment Hub, the U.S. Embassy is building awareness for AGOA for export ready business to the United States. The Hub is a component of two U.S. presidential initiatives, Trade Africa and Feed the Future, and offers assistance and advice to Ugandan companies interested in exporting their products to the Untied States.

By U.S. Mission Uganda | 11 August, 2016 | Topics: Exclude, News