The Ninth AGOA Civil Society forum held in Washington DC on July 29th & 30th was a tremendous success. The forum ended with an excitement for the future of AGOA.
The forum commenced with Senator Cardin (D-MD), from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the keynote speaker. This then flowed into a panel giving background on Civil Society and AGOA from 2000-2010. The ensuing panel, Energizing AGOA Agriculture Trade, was moderated by Patrick Wilson, the BIG-Africa Partnership Secretariat. While lunch was being served, William Fitzgerald, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs gave thoughtful input on AGOA. This continued into a engaging discussion that progressed into and Infrastructure Panel moderated by Katrin Kuhlmann. Kuhlmann, a Resident Fellow from The German Marshall Fund, has conducted extensive work on African Development Corridors and Regional Economic Communities. After the final panel, moderated by David Saunders that discussed the Impact of Trade on African Societies, the day was concluded with a reception.
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| Master of Ceremony of the evening reception, Tony Carroll, VP Manchester Trade, addresses the African Women Entrepreneurs |
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| Tom Sheehy, Staffer from Congressman Ed Royce's office addresses the gathering while Tony Carroll, VP of Manchester Trade, and Steve McDonald, Director of Africa Program Wilson Center look on |
The morning of Friday, July 30th kicked off with a positive speech from Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA). The Congressman has been a supporter of AGOA and posses unique understanding of Africa.
Manchester Trade's panel, Textiles and Beyond, was attended by African Women Entrepreneurs and was very well received for its ideas on AGOA reaching beyond textiles.
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| Tony Carroll, VP of Manchester Trade, moderates Textiles and Beyond |
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| 34 African Women Entrepreneurs in the audience during Manchester Trade's Textiles and Beyond Panel |
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| Stephen Lande, President of Manchester Trade, Panelist of Textiles and Beyond. Lande advocating for permanence and predictability of AGOA, and to not use AGOA as an economic sanction. |
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| Navdeep Sodhi, Nigeria Associate, Nigeria Office Manchester Trade. Sodhi discussed business diversification initiatives by Nigerian textile manufacturers . |
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| Examples of products Sodhi referred to during his presentation on business diversification by Nigerian textile manufactures. In the blue bag, long lasing insecticide treated net (LLIN); in clear bags, Post-Consumer recycled polyester chips and fiber from PET bottles |
At the Woodrow Wilson Center there has been a buzz of excitement the past two days; as the forum has been comprised with excellent panels, an outstanding audience, and remarkable staff. Although Civil Society has concluded, if you were unable to make the event or would like to watch the panels again, the Woodrow Wilson Center will have the forum on their website soon.
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