African diplomats express satisfaction with African Growth and Opportunity Act reauthorization

The ambassador of Gabon, Michael Moussa-Adamo, told a National Press Club Newsmaker on July 28 that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was “an outstanding example of a trade law that has generated success in the long term.”

Moussa-Adamo, who co-chairs AGOA with Ambassador Eliachim Molapi Sebatane of Lesotho, was one of several African diplomats who spoke on the impact of AGOA on African countries. The trade law offers incentives for sub-Saharan African nations to intensify efforts to open their economies and facilitate the creation of free markets. It was reauthorized in June by the House of Representatives and Senate, extending it for another ten years, he said.

AGOA has generated over “1 million indirect jobs in sub-Saharan Africa,” in addition to other tangible positive outcomes, which made the reauthorization and extension a necessity, Moussa-Adamo said.

Mninwa Mahlangu, Ambassador of South Africa, lauded the “partnership and teamwork” exhibited during the reauthorization of AGOA in what he called a “win-win” situation. The 10-year period approved for the extension was the longest so far, even though “ambassadors from Africa had been pushing for 15 years,” Mahlangu said.

Answering a question from a member of the audience regarding any strategic plans now that AGOA has been reauthorized for another decade, Moussa-Adamo said it has a “capacity building element” which will help African countries to compete favorably in global markets.

While responding to a comment on the issue of corruption in Africa, Moussa-Adamo said one of the problems African Ambassadors and Africans have to face is that of “perception,” and there are areas in the world where corruption is more endemic, adding it is “difficult” and “tiring” to keep hearing that.