The U.S. Department of State, in conjunction with several U.S. Government agencies, will host the 11th annual U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Forum, commonly known as the AGOA Forum, 14-15 June 2012 in Washington, D.C., the US State Department said in a release obtained by PANA here Friday.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the U.S. Government’s signature trade initiative with sub-Saharan Africa, and is the parent legislation of the Forum.
The statement said the 2012 AGOA Forum would focus on enhancing infrastructure development in Africa by promoting an improved business climate and effective regulation that will encourage private-public partnerships; and also by increasing regional economic integration through strategic development of regional transportation corridors, regional power pools, and power generation capacity that can be shared across borders.
Other ways the Forum hopes to enhance infrastructure development are by highlighting opportunities for U.S. exports in infrastructure related products and support for U.S. investment in the sector; and by encouraging the adaptation of renewable energy and energy efficient products.
The annual AGOA Forum is a mix of programmes and events that will take place during the month of June.
The event will be preceded by a two-day civil society programme 12-13 June in Washington, DC.
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) will also host its infrastructure conference 18-20 June in Washington, DC, and the U.S.-Africa Business Conference (USABC) will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio 21-22 June.
-0- PANA SEG 8June2012
