Fifty stakeholders from the private and public sectors are taking part in a training workshop on November 12 and 13 in Brazzaville, focusing on opportunities for exporting products to the United States of America, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The objective is to equip Congolese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the knowledge needed to take advantage of this law and support them in complying with the requirements of the American market.
Organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Ceerc project in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Affairs, as well as the United States Embassy, the two-day workshop will allow state actors to take stock of the measures to be implemented to support businesses. It should, among other things, contribute to the economic diversification of Congo, job creation and improvement of international competitiveness as well as stimulate economic growth and the integration of Congolese businesses into the American market.
“The agricultural cooperatives and SMEs with which the Ceerc project, funded by the American government, interacts, demonstrate technicality and innovation… The said project, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, thought that it would be interesting to get out of the informal part in order to open up possibilities for Congolese products that are highly appreciated and consumed in a market that is looking for them,” said the head of the Ceerc project, Sabine Jiekak.
Adopted in 2000 by the U.S. government, Agoa aims to increase trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. It allows eligible countries, including Congo, to export to the United States duty-free, providing privileged access to this vast market. Agoa also promotes economic diversification, job creation and the development of sustainable business practices.
In his opening remarks, Eugene Young, the United States Ambassador to Congo, said that in this country, the United States sees enormous potential for economic diversification in areas such as ecotourism, the economy, and agriculture. Sectors, he said, that are ready to thrive under the partnership with Agoa. According to his remarks, over the past three years, the American government has supported thirty-four Congolese SMEs. In total, 645 Congolese have benefited from direct financial assistance from the United States, for an amount of more than seven hundred thousand dollars, or approximately four hundred and sixty million FCFA. Figures that, according to the ambassador, will continue to increase over the next two years because the American government has extended its grant agreement for the development objective by two years while aligning it with the Congo’s national development plan until 2026.
“Over the next two days, I know you will work to maximize the benefits of the Agoa partnership. Our shared goal is clear: to create greater economic opportunity and prosperity for both our nations. By expanding duty-free access to the U.S. market and building strong commercial ties between Congolese and American businesses,” said the U.S. Ambassador to Congo.
Opening the proceedings, the Minister of SMEs and Handicrafts, Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, recalled that eligible to export its products to the American market, Congo has adopted a national Agoa strategy for the period 2021-2025, approved by the government and ratified by Parliament. This strategy aims to positively impact the competitiveness of Congolese companies to conquer significant shares in the American market.
“This workshop aimed at strengthening the productive and competitive capacities of Congolese operators marks an important step in our relations with the United States of America. It will, in fact, consolidate the bonds of friendship, economic and commercial cooperation between the Republic of Congo and the United States of America, and strengthen our cooperation within the framework of Agoa… Commercial capacities strengthened according to Agoa standards constitute a springboard for Congolese companies towards the American market,” said Minister Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo.
