Africa-America Institute Begins Conversations on Africa Series in Washington
After two successful panel discussions on promoting economic growth in Africa and a second annual summit for mid-career professionals seeking employment in Africa, the Africa-America Institute (AAI) will present its inaugural Conversations on Africa Series with a panel discussion on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). (Photo: Amini Kajunju, President and CEO of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), and Florizelle B. Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR))
The discussion which takes place on Thursday, June 12 at Capitol Hill’s B340 Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC will centered on “AGOA 2015: Positioning Renewal to Ensure human Capacity Training.”
“I am very excited about today’s launch of AAI’s Conversations on Africa (COA) Series. The renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act is both timely and exciting, especially as the Obama Administration prepares to ost numerous African Heads of State in Washington for the US – Africa Leader’s Summit 2014 on August 5-6. Our COAs will provide a regular forum for interested parties to come together and debate the challenging issues confronting the continent of Africa,” said Amini Kajunju, AAI’s President and CEO.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration, A.G.O.A., which is set to expire in 2015, was signed into law on May 18, 2000 to offer tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets.
Because of A.G.O.A., since 2001 total trade between the United States of America and sub-Saharan Africa has more than doubled from $28.2 billion to $72.3 billion in 2012 resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs in Africa
The participants of this meeting are big and powerful group of trade and investment officials as well as high-level politicians including the Honorable Karen Bass – a California democrat and Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations – will offer the Opening Remarks.
Kamran Khan, Vice President of the Department of Compact Operations, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will moderate the discussion.
Ambassador Michael A. Battle, Senior Advisor, U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit will join other panelists including Witney Schneiderman, Non-Resident Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, The Brookings Institute; Steve Hayes, President and CEO, The Corporate Council on Africa. Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, American Apparel & Footwear Association; The Honorable Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Gregory Simpkins, Majority Staff Director, House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
This event is free and open to the public but a reservation is required at http://www.aaionline.org/about-aai/contact-aai/
By Dennis Kabatto
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(Photo: Amini Kajunju, President and CEO of the Africa-America Institute (AAI), and Florizelle B. Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR))
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