Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati has arrived in the United States of America to attend the 9th African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum which will be officially opened tomorrow Monday, August 2.
The 2010 AGOA Forum will be held under the theme “New Strategies for a Changing World” and coincides with most African countries continued exploits of their respective comparative advantages in order to maximize benefits from the AGOA trade preferences.
This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in the United States of America Ben Kangwa.
Mr. Kangwa said the Forum will be held in two sessions, the first from tomorrow to Tuesday and will involve government officials and will also be attended by US secretaries of state, commerce, Agriculture and the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
He added that the second and last forum will run from 5th to 6th August and will focus on agribusiness.
Mr. Kangwa said the minister and his delegation will also use the Forum to hold bilateral meetings with United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Ron Kirk.
He further disclosed that the minister will hold meetings of mutual interest with the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation Council of Africa (CCA), Mr. Stephen Hayes and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Ms. Elizabeth Littlefield.
Mr Kangwa said that Mr. Mutati and other AGOA Ministers and delegates will tour the Kansas City Board of Trade which trades in wheat to learn how the US markets function.
The ministers will also learn why transparency, stability and predictability are important for producers to help them improve agriculture in their countries.
Mr Kangwa said Mr. Mutati is accompanied to the meeting by officials from various Ministries, the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the Private Sector.
The forum will be attended by 250 delegates from some 60 countries, 23 African entrepreneurs, and 11women from 10 African countries will also attend the forum.
ZANIS
Great news. I’m sure Mr. Mutati will not disappoint.
In MMD Mutati is one of the few who remain focussed and not influenced by other so called fanatical leaders. This is my man for 2016, where it will be a great election because it will scrap out all UNIP error politicians and leave the youth to compete, I see 2016 election as a landmark election Mutati,-MMD Milupi-ADD, HHor Prof Chirwa-UPND, Chipimo-NAREP. I cant wait for 2016 to come, finally certain dinasours will be dead and burried then, it will be the year of the educated.
what goods does zed export to USA. i know that the small neigbouring country i live in is making big gains through AGOA.
#3 mafosisa
To be honest we dont export anything serious but we’re damn serious tourists – the kind you’re seeing in picture above.
#3
These dudes when they get back home won’t even remember where they left their AGOA folders. In our country we call their motivation pe-diem, i’m glad your small country has leaders who dont doze,dreaming what phones to buy their girlfriends during such meetings
This is the only fellow i know who at leist works harder,