Welcome to the AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network Site!!! The AGOA Civil Society (CSO) Network is a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), small-to-medium sized business representatives, chambers of commerce and other groups in the United States and Africa that are interested in the successful application of AGOA for the benefit of the US and African people. The Network was established by 102 member organizations from the United States, Mauritius, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo that were in attendance during the AGOA Civil Society Forum on January 17, 2003, in Phoenix, Mauritius. The AGOA CSO Network's focus is on increasing the volume and quality of African exports under AGOA and educating stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean on this trade policy and its advantages. |
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Your news & updates Happy New Year! We wish you and yours much success in 2019. Our entire staff thanks you for your interest in our programs and your continued support. We are excited about what opportunities 2019 will bring, and to let you know about events we have planned, and some of the programs that we are implementing.
ECC is a union of more than 95 Church communities in Congo that are engaged in prophetic mission of Christ, including, participation in electoral processes. MOE-ECC consisted of 22 international election observers, and more than 11, 000 national observers from across the 26 provinces of DRC in support of this historic moment in the life of the people of the DRC. Election monitoring was conducted by MOE-ECC as a means of providing an impartial and accurate assessment regarding the nature of election procedures and ensuring transparency during the election process. ECC’s election observation mission was conducted in accordance with international standards, i.e., the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the African Union Declaration on the Principles of Democratic Elections (2005), African Union Guidelines for Election Observations and Monitoring Missions (200), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections & Governance (2007), as well as the current legal framework governing presidential and legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The AGOA CSO Network Secretariat is delighted to share with you the Preliminary Statement, pictures and videos from the Election Observation Mission of the presidential, legislative and provincial elections organized by the Church of Christ in Congo. The Secretariat commends and congratulates the PEOPLE of the Democratic Republic of Congo for coming out in large numbers, PEACEFULY, and allowing the peaceful transfer of power from President Kabila to President Tshisekedi on January 24, 2019. The election was the first election held in the Democratic Republic of Congo, since Congo gained its independence in June 1960. We applaud the members of ECC-MOE for their contribution and sacrifices, including, being away from family members during the Christmas and New Year holidays, especially, the international observers. Let me take this opportunity to thank ECC leadership for the invitation and opportunity to serve., and wish President Tshisekedi and the PEOPLE of DRC the best in 2019 and BEYOND. Download the Preliminary Statement of the Elections Observation Mission of Church of Christ in Congo (ECC)
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The AGOA CSO Network's focus is on increasing the volume and quality of African exports under AGOA and educating stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean on this trade policy and its advantages.
Africa Trade Development Center, Cargo Express and HUBB UCS leadership recently at Cargo Express facilities discussing logistics and fulfillment for 2018 holiday season
| Fred Oladeinde President, Tony Okonmah of ATDC with Jose Matto President and Abdellatif Bedier of HUBB-UCS at recent meeting at the ATDC facilities in Miami on 2018 holiday seasons
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Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen |
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AfrICANDO 2018 Gallery African Women's Entrepreneurship Program PRODUCT SHOWCASE Agricultural Goods || Jewelry || Fashion & Design || Textiles and more! Meridian International Center, Washington, DC |
CIPE Hosts AGOA CSO Network International Forum on U.S. Africa Trade: “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Expanding United States-Africa Trade and Investment”
July 11, 2018
WASHINGON, D.C. –– Global experts have concluded an international forum held at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) headquarters in Washington, D.C. to craft recommendations for maximizing trade between Africa and the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The longstanding U.S. legislation has helped boost trade with African nations, strengthen democracy, and improve the quality of life for citizens via new economic opportunities.
The AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network and the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) organized the annual event, which occurred Monday and Tuesday. Participants from 40 nations held panel discussions and activities designed to help them form policy recommendations for their governments ahead of ministerial meetings this week with U.S. Trade officials. CIPE Executive Director Andrew Wilson welcomed forum attendees and provided encouragement. Read more
17th Annual U.S. - Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
(also known as the AGOA Forum)
July 9 -11, 2018
Washington, DC, USA
The Civil Society Organization/African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) Session of the 17th AGOA Forum is scheduled for July 9-1oth, 2018 at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), located at 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, and on July 11, from 2:30-4:30 pm at The Heritage Foundation which is located at 214 Massachusetts, Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002.
The theme of this year's event is: " The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Expanding U.S.- Africa Trade and Investment," and the event will offer seminars, a workshop on developing an AGOA Country Utilization Plan for Civil Society, networking, a visit to Capitol Hill, museums and other historical sites in the United States Capitol.
The 4th Annual AGOA Spring Conference took place April 18 -19, 2018 in Washington, DC, at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and on Capitol Hill. The conference focused on President Trump’s policy on Africa; and included a review of the Administration’s recent visit to Africa; trade numbers for AGOA over the past twelve months under the Trump administration; and discussed the opportunity that bi annual AGOA Utilization Strategies offer eligible Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries for increasing exports and advancing economic cooperation under AGOA.
A highlight of the event was a visit by members of the AGOA CSO Network with Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a Congressional Exchange on the legislative agenda for AGOA on April 19th on Capitol Hill.
During the Congressional Exchange, Network participated in discussions on AGOA with:
Angela Ellard, Chief Trade Counsel Ways & Means Committee and Trade Subcommittee Staff Director of the U.S. House of Representatives
Joshua Snead, Trade Counsel to the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives
Katherine Tai, Chief Trade Counsel, Democratic Staff, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means
Katherine F. White, Brookings Legis Congressional Fellow, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means
Download the Agenda for the Spring Conference
Download Remarks from the Spring Conference
Download the Communique for the Event
AGOA Civil Society/AWEP Session
of the
16th AGOA Forum
Lome, Togo
Presented to 16th AGOA Ministerial Session
The AGOA Civil Society Organization and African Women Entrepreneurs Program (AWEP) Session of the 2017 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum took place on August 7-10, under the Theme “Civil Society and AWEP Using AGOA to Build Prosperity by 2025” The Session was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel and the ECOWAS Building in Lomé, Togo.
The CSO/AWEP Session of the 16th AGOA Forum brought together more than 200 delegates from the United States and AGOA eligible countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa to address the following issues:
- AGOA Country Utilization Strategy
- AGOA Eligibility Criteria
- Infrastructure and Transportation Linkages to Make AGOA Products Competitive
- Using Fair Trade to Promote AGOA Exports for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Using Micro, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises to Strengthen Regional Integration
- AGOA Challenges, Best Practices and the Way Forward
Download the Agenda for the CSO/AWEP Session
Download the Communique and Recommendations
Download the French Version of the Communique and Recommendations
Fred O. Oladeinde
Chair, AGOA Civil Society Network Secretariat
Remarks during Opening Ceremony
Becky Norton Dunlop
Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow, Policy Promotion, The Heritage Foundation
Welcome Remarks
Chief Executive Officer, GS1, Ghana
Packaging & Labeling for Export Competitiveness
19th Annual AfrICANDO Trade and Investment Conference/Trade Show
Supply Chain Development and Competitiveness under AGOA
Apparel, Handi-Crafts, Beverages, Spices and Ethnic Food Trade Show for SMEs
2nd Track for Port Directors on Supply Chain and Port Security
September 20-22, 2017
Betty T. Ferguson Complex, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
AfrICANDO 2017 - A US - Africa Trade and Investment Conference/Trade Show brought together more than 200 leaders from government, civil society, chambers of commerce, and the private sector from throughout Africa, the Caribbean and the United States. The objective of this year’s event was to address supply chain development, trade policy, trade security, logistics/transportation, and other relevant issues in an effort to identify the challenges and obstacles to small, and medium enterprises’(SMEs’) competitiveness in the US markets under AGOA.
The 4-day event included a dinner, and tour of several points of interest, including the Africa Trade Development Center (ATDC)/ Miami Free Zone; workshops; a trade show, and a marketplace; reception/fashion show; and competition among export ready companies from AGOA eligible countries exhibiting during the trade show.
Download the Communique from AfrICANDO 2017
Download Photos from AfrICANDO
And the Winners of the MSME Competition during AfrICANDO 2017 are...Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, and Nigeria (Ghana not pictured) |
3rd Annual AGOA CSO Network The 3rd Annual AGOA Civil Society Organization Network Spring Conference under the theme “The Future of AGOA under the Trump Administration and 115th Congress of the United States” took place on April 20, 2017 at the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal, in Washington DC, and on April 21, 2017 in the historic Library of the House Ways and Means Committee in the Longworth House Office Building, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC.
The event brought together Ambassadors representing AGOA eligible countries, leaders from civil society, government, business, members of the press from the USA and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and a Cabinet Minister to focus on how civil society organizations can support government and business in reversing the current trend of declining US-Africa trade volume and economic engagement and strengthen the implementation of AGOA with the view of creating sorely needed good paying jobs on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean under the Trump administration. Download the complete Communique, including Recommendations here! Download Presentations from the Spring Conference Fred O. Oladeinde, Chairman, AGOA CSO Network Secretariat |
CSO/AWEP Joint Session
of the
15th Annual United States - Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
(AGOA Forum)
The Civil Society Organization (CSO)/African Women’s Entrepreneurship (AWEP) Joint Session of the 15th Annual U.S. – Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (also known as the AGOA Forum) took place September 22-23, 2016 under the theme “The Role of Civil Society in Maximizing AGOA Benefits Now while Preparing for the Future Beyond AGOA.” The event was held at the Reagan Events Center which is located in the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Washington, DC.
The Joint Session of this year’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum brought together more than 200 delegates from the United States, AGOA eligible countries, and others to address the following issues:
- AGOA Country Utilization Strategy
- Congressional Perspectives on The Future of AGOA
- Capacity Building and Technical Assistance to Support Trade Facilitation in Sub-Saharan Africa
- The Future of US-Africa Economic Cooperation
- Enhancing Africa’s Regional Integration to Support US-Africa Trade and Investment
- YALI’s Role in Strengthening US-Africa Trade and Investment Expansion
- AWEP Discussions on The Future of US-Africa Trade and Investment
To view video of the Ministerial Opening Ceremony of the United States Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation (AGOA) Forum. Introductory remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Opening Remarks by Ambassador Michael Froman, U.S. Trade Representative, click on the link below:
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