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African Growth and Opportunity Act: Private Sector Forum

Setting the Stage for the Next Phase in the U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Partnership

Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 / Time: 8:45am - 1:30pm EDT

Center: Africa Center

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Enhancing U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnerships is important to U.S. and African economic development goals. And with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in 2025, it’s crucial to consider the role AGOA has played — and could play going forward, if reauthorized — in supporting those goals. But changing trade and investment landscapes could also signal the need to think “beyond AGOA” to build stronger partnerships in areas like critical minerals, trade capacity, and internet and communications technology — sectors that can benefit from stronger policy engagement as well as financial tools.

Even now, African countries are actively reshaping their approach to trade in response to major developments such as the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), the introduction of African Union programs to support manufacturing sectors, and global shifts to improve supply chain security. Amid this changing environment, the 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum offers an opportunity to explore what the next phase in the U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnership might look like. 

On July 24, USIP, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the U.S. Department of Commerce hosted the 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum. The Forum focused on opportunities for enhancing U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnerships during a pivotal time in U.S.-Africa trade policy development, including as Congress considers AGOA reauthorization. The 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum also provided critical input for official ministerial meetings taking place as part of the broader AGOA proceedings in Washington, D.C., scheduled for July 25-26.

Agenda

8:45am – 9:15 am EDT | Welcome

  • Ambassador George Moose, welcoming remarks
    Acting President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace
  • Florie Liser, introductory remarks
    President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa
  • Antony J. Blinken, keynote remarks (Read the transcript)
    U.S. Secretary of State
  • Ambassador Katherine Tai (Read the transcript)
    U.S. Trade Representative
  • H.E. Albert Muchanga
    Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Mining, African Union

9:15am – 9:50am EDT | AGOA Renewal: Setting the Stage for the Next Phase of U.S.-African Economic Partnership

  • Hon. Parks Tau
    Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Republic of South Africa
  • Anne Aliker
    Group Head Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank
  • Bobby Thomson
    SVP and Head of Global Government Engagement, Visa
  • Farouk Gumel
    Vice Chair, Africa, TGI Group
  • Henock Teferra Shawl
    Managing Director, Africa, Boeing
  • Catherine Robinson
    Senior Director, Global Trade Policy and International Government Affairs, Pfizer
  • Everett Eissenstat, moderator
    Partner Public Policy Group, Squire Patton Boggs

10:00am – 10:50am EDT | Scaling to Success: Building Stronger Partnerships in Textiles, Automotives and Agribusiness

  • Babajide Sodipo
    Senior Manager, AU/AfCFTA Relations and Trade Policy, Afreximbank
  • Rahul Mittal
    Director of Intra Africa Sales, ARISE
  • Eckart Naumann
    Senior Associate, Tralac
  • Olawunmi Osholane
    Deputy Managing Director, Global Shea Alliance
  • Jim Krigbaum
    CEO 20/20 DC
  • Erica Joubert
    Head, Export Promotion, Wesgro
  • Vanessa Adams, moderator
    Founder and CEO, Level4International

10:50am – 11:20am EDT | The View from Trade Associations and PAC-DBIA

  • Paul Ryberg
    President, African Coalition for Trade (on behalf of AREA)
  • Lilowtee Rajmussen-Jooseery
    Director, MEXA
  • Victor Ogalo
    Deputy CEO, KEPSA
  • Rahama Wright
    Chief Executive Officer, Yeleen Enterprises PACDBIA
  • Kate Tulenko
    CEO, Corvus Health PACDBIA
  • Brionne Dawson
    Google PACDBIA
  • Laird Treiber, moderator
    Senior Adviser, CCA

11:20am – 11:50am EDT | Beyond AGOA

  • Tom Sheehy
    Distinguished Fellow, USIP
  • Dr. Zainab Usman
    Director of the Africa Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Tony Carroll
    Vice President, Manchester Trade
  • Dr. Joseph Sany, moderator
    Vice President, Africa Center, USIP

12:05pm – 1:00pm EDT | Recommendations for the Future of U.S.-African Trade and Investment

  • Don Graves, keynote remarks
    Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • David Olave
    Associate and Trade Policy Adviser, Sandler Travis & Rosenberg
  • David Coffey
    CEO, African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM)
  • Chris LeGrand
    CEO, Broadreach
  • Drew Quinn
    Director of International Trade Engagement, Strategy and Policy, GE Health Care
  • Melissa Nelson
    General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, SanMar Corporation
  • Witney Schneidman, moderator
    President, Schneidman and Associates

1:00pm – 1:30pm | Closing: Fireside Chat

  • Jas Bedi
    Chair, KEPSA
  • British Robinson
    Coordinator, Prosper Africa
  • Brahima Coulibaly
    Vice President and Director of the Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution
  • Florie Liser, moderator and closing remarks
    President and CEO, CCA

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