United States: So near, yet so far (Africa)

[dArKeR]

Michee Boko | Cotonou, Benin

02 March 2004 15:37

The start of 2004 has presented a set of challenges to the business community in Benin.

After difficult negotiations that lasted for almost two years, the country was finally granted a licence in January to export a variety of locally manufactured goods to the United States, tariff- and quota-free. But, laments Henri Gouthon, president of the National Council of Beninese Exporters, “Benin has nothing to export!”

“We’ve been able to obtain the Agoa visa, but we are not ready,” he adds. “It’s like we want to go hunting but we’ve forgotten to ready the dogs.”

The question now is whether would-be manufacturers will be able to rise to the challenge.

The visas or export licences in question are granted under Agoa that was passed in May 2000 during the presidency of Bill Clinton. The act aims to “promote trade and investment between the US and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa by according eligible countries special access to the American market”.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=32065