Ghana’s apparel exports hit $9 million under AGOA
Exports of apparel and clothing from Ghana have increased from less than $250,000 in 2001 to more than $9 million in 2015 under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The figures were discussed by Melinda Tabler-Stone, Charge d’Affaires at the US embassy in Accra, at a workshop on exporting to the US under AGOA.
“With investment partnerships with US companies and technical assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we fully expect to see another large increase in exports in 2016 with the potential to provide employment opportunities for thousands of people,” she said.
AGOA, which was recently renewed for the next 10 years by the US Congress, was created in May 2000 to give preferential access to the US market for over 6,000 products from 39 sub-Saharan Africa nations.
“AGOA has been a centre-piece of trade relationship in Africa over the past fifteen years and this extension provides Ghana and other African countries a partnership and an opportunity to attract new long-term investments,” Ms Tabler-Stone added.
