Zuko Komisa
South Africa will host the 20th AGOA Forum from 2-4 November 2023.
Despite earlier calls from US politicians for the event to be shifted due to what they claimed was the country’s developing military connection with Russia, South Africa will host a U.S.-Africa trade meeting in November.
The U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum will be held in Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa, from November 2 to 4, according to a statement released on Wednesday by U.S. and South African officials.
Ebrahim Patel, minister of trade, industry, and competition, stated that South Africa is looking forward to hosting a high-level delegation from the United States and other sub-Saharan African nations.
“AGOA has helped to promote the export of African goods to the United States, and we believe there is scope to deepen its impact on African industrialisation.
“An extension of AGOA beyond 2025 will promote inward investment in Africa and provide benefits to both the United States and African countries. It will also support our efforts to increase growth through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that will cover 54 countries and 1.4 billion people,” said the Minister.
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COSATU welcomes the official announcement of the upcoming AGOA Summit to be held in November.
In order to further encourage our economic and industrial development, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has stated that it supports the government’s attempts to extend South Africa’s membership in AGOA, host the AGOA Summit in Johannesburg in November, and expand the scope of items covered.
“AGOA has been important not only to South Africa’s industrial development but also to those of other African states, in particular our neighbouring countries, e.g. Botswana who’s direct exports to the US pale into insignificance compared to its value add exports to South Africa’s auto-manufacturing sector which are then included in vehicle exports to the US.”
“South Africa’s exit from AGOA would not only be a devastating blow to local jobs but also those throughout the region and thus further add pressure to an already unmanageable migration flow to South Africa.” said COSATU
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