Last year, Namibia launched its AGOA Utilisation Strategy with the objective of diversifying and increasing its exports to the United States of America under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The strategy chiefly seeks to assist Namibia to develop its competitiveness in utilising the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) that provides eligible countries with duty free access to the lucrative USA market. 

Now, Namibia through the trade ministry in collaboration with USAID TradeHub, will host two hybrid events, focused on AGOA capacity building, scheduled for 8 and 15 June 2022 in the capital. Both events aim to provide an overview of Namibia’s AGOA key principles, export opportunities and information on the requirements to successfully export to the USA. 

Notable discussions at the event will focus on export procedures, preparing and sending shipment to the US, to sharing expertise in logistics, Namibia customs, documentation (including certificate of origin), US Customs and Border Protection, and warehousing, distribution and fulfilment in the US and incoterms. 

According to Elijah Mukubonda, trade ministry spokesperson, Namibia is keen to maximise AGOA’s trade potential in trade, investments and skills transfer through market access, strengthening technical assistance and capacity building initiatives. The overall aim is to improve and expand Namibia’s export basket to the USA market. 

“We can never over emphasise the unwavering support by the US government in expanding the volume of bilateral trade and defining the commercial relations between the United States and Namibia. The Namibian business community, exporting companies and companies with the potential to export to the United States are invited to attend,” said Mukubonda. 

The venue for both workshops will be Droombos Vineyard Country lodge (Farm Klein Windhoek Portion 41, Windhoek).