US State Dept. to Host 5 Africa-Focused Trade & Business Events in June

Bureau of African Affairs
US Department of State

May 31, 2012

The Bureau of African Affairs of the State Department is organizing five trade and business events during June in cities throughout the United States. The AGOA Forum, the AGOA Civil Society Session, the Cincinnati Business Conference, the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, and the Young African Leaders Initiative Program. These events will include hundreds of participants from across Africa from different sectors – business, government, civil society, and academia.

• The U.S. Department of State, in conjunction with several U.S. Government agencies, will host the eleventh annual U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Forum, commonly known as the AGOA Forum, June 14-15, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the U.S. Government’s signature trade initiative with sub-Saharan Africa, and is the parent legislation of the Forum. The AGOA Forum brings together over 600 participants, including senior U.S. and African officials, as well as U.S. and African members of the private sector and civil society. AGOA represents a progressive U.S. trade and investment policy toward the continent working to reduce barriers to trade, increase diversified exports, create jobs, and expand opportunities for Africans. AGOA provides trade preferences to 40 sub-Saharan African countries that are making progress in economic and political reforms.

• From June 12-15, the Civil Society Session (CSO) of the 2012 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum will examine civil society’s role in legislative reforms, regional integration and bilateral trade facilitation efforts, diversifying imports, technical assistance and capacity building, engaging the Diaspora, public-private partnerships, youth entrepreneurship, and empowering women entrepreneurs in AGOA . Twenty-seven civil society representatives from Africa will participate in the four days of activities in Washington, D.C.

• The State Department, in collaboration with several U.S. Government agencies, will host the U.S.-Africa Business Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 21-22, Echoing the theme of the AGOA Forum, the event will focus broadly on infrastructure development, including energy, transportation, and water and sanitation. The U.S.-Africa Business Conference aims to provide an opportunity to showcase U.S. business expertise to potential African clients, and to highlight trade and investment opportunities in Africa to U.S. exporters and investors.

• The U.S. Department of State announced yesterday that the third annual Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) will kick-off its international exchange component in New York on June 4. Leading off the program, fashion designer, philanthropist and Chairman/Founder of DVF Studio LP, Diane von Furstenberg will participate in a conversation with the women, who hail from the fashion and textile industry, agribusiness, and home décor. For three weeks, 47 African women entrepreneurs from 37 countries will engage in professional development training and networking opportunities with American counterparts from civil society, corporations, industry associations, non-profit organizations, and multilateral development organizations throughout the United States.

• The U.S. Department of State is working with Meridian International Center to bring 65 young African social and business entrepreneurs to the U.S. for a high profile summit and leadership development program from June 11-July 1. The Young African Leaders Program is part of the President’s Young African Leaders’ Initiative and will coincide with the AGOA Summit in Washington.

###