4 April 2011
A woman entrepreneur organisation in Zambezi District has said the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) should be used as a tool to alleviate poverty and improve the living standards of the people in rural areas.
Save Environment and People Agency (SEPA) managing director Mailes Muke said trade activities under AGOA should be used to accelerate poverty reduction and expose rural entrepreneurs to the export market.
Ms Muke said entrepreneurs in the rural areas are faced with market challenges, hence the hosting of the AGOA would provide an opportunity for the women entrepreneurs to network with the US buyers.
“The forum to be held in Zambia will create an opportunity for the business community to effectively interact with their US counterpart and this will create business linkages consequently empowering them,” Ms Muke said.
Sepa has 25 groups representing more than 100 women involved in footwear manufacturing, jewely making and farming.
The women would display Zambian products such as necklace and earrings made out of seeds, bamboo, softwood and cattle horns.
Others are doormats and wall mats made out of sisal, small ancient fishing baskets, sieve made out of local glass and among others.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted by the US Congress and signed into law by former president Bill Clinton on May 18, as a component of the Trade and Development Act 2000.
The 2011 AGOA forum is promoted under theme, ‘Enhanced Trade through Increased Competitiveness, Value Addition and Deeper Regional Integration.’
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Entrepreneurs Upbeat on AGOA