Washington, DC — Hundreds of government officials from 33 African countries are meeting next week in Port-Louis, Mauritius to discuss trade and investment opportunities in Africa and prospects for expanding commercial relations with the United States.
The official delegates to the Second AGOA Ministerial Meeting will also have a chance to talk with 500 business leaders from the U.S. and around the continent gathering for a parallel private sector forum and a meeting of non-governmental organizations.
"This AGOA meeting can create the conditions for increased U.S. investment not only in Mauritius, but also in the rest of Africa," says Da Appadu, the principal assistant secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Mauritius. Appadu, who is the coordinator of these events for the Mauritian government, told AllAfrica that the ministerial meeting will be opened on January 15 by the Mauritius prime minister, Anerood Jugnauth, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zollick. Secretary of State Colin Powell has cancelled plans to attend.
Can you describe to us the program for the AGOA conference? We understand there are several different events running at the same time?
The AGOA conference has three components. One is the ministerial meeting. That is taking place between January 15 and 17.
Then you have the private sector session, which has a separate venue. The private sector session has two prongs: one is a private sector workshop and the other is a trade exhibition. The private sector sessions are taking place from January 14 to 16.
Then we have the NGO event. That is starting on Monday, January 13, running through January 15.
How many government officials have confirmed they will participate?
We have confirmation from 275 delegates from 32 eligible African countries, including some 60 government ministers. This excludes the U.S. delegation and the local delegation from Mauritius. If we add up all this we expect something like 400 delegates for the government forum.
Will the delegations most be composed of foreign ministers, finance ministers or trade officials?
The U.S. government has invited three ministers from each eligible country: the minister of trade and industry, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of finance. In some cases you have the ministers of foreign affairs heading the delegation, in other cases you have the ministers of finance and in some cases you have the ministers of trade.
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Will the Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the two countries that the U.S. president has just announced will be added to the list of eligible countries, also be represented?
No, they are not part of this forum. But I am sure their turn will come next year.
Can you tell us about the delegation from Mauritius?
From my country we have at least six ministers from the Mauritian government and also a quite substantial number of senior officers.
How do you see this conference benefiting your country?
Mauritius is one of the first countries that has benefited. AGOA has offered vast opportunities, in terms of exporting textiles, apparel and other products. We are also in the process of putting up a cyber city; it is just taking shape.
This will open up more trading opportunities. This AGOA meeting can create the conditions for increased U.S. investment not only in Mauritius, but also in the rest of Africa.
What are your expectations for attendance of the private sector forum?
Almost 500 people have already registered. The private sector session is starting with the opening on January 13 of the trade exhibition. Then they have another opening for the workshops on January 14 in the morning.
