Africa-Press – Namibia. THE United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) TradeHub has assisted 106 Namibian firms to engage in business-to-business events with potential buyers, showcase their products, and start new business discussions.
According to Jessica Long, United States (US) embassy chargé d’affaires, more than 6 400 qualifying exports from eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Namibia, have had access to the US market through the African growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
Long was speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Windhoek to reflect on the six-year southern Africa trade and investment hub (Usaid Trade Hub).
She said through the trade hub, the US has helped Namibian firms achieve Agoa and non-Agoa-related exports valued at US$2,7 million (about N$43 million) over the past three years.
Agoa is a unilateral trade preference programme providing duty-free access to the US.
In May 2021, the Namibian government launched an Agoa utilisation strategy. This strategy was developed with support from the Usaid Trade Hub, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, and the private sector, and it provides a roadmap for diversifying Namibia’s exports under the programme.
Specifically, the trade hub has assisted Taneta Investment to be listed on Amazon. Taneta is a Namibian company that exports marula oil beauty care products to the US and the European Union.
The trade hub has also supported Desert Hills to exhibit their Nara Food Oil brand as part of 38 companies from the region featured at the June 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show under the African Fine Food Pavilion in New York.
“I am so pleased to be here today to take another important step in our shared journey to strengthen investment and trade ties between the United States and Namibia,” said Long.
“Growing our bilateral economic and commercial relationship is one of our top priorities. Commercial diplomacy is central to our foreign policy. And the United States, like Namibia, is committed to finding ways to foster equality and equity in our country and build a more inclusive economy for all,” the diplomat said.
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