The US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is promoting increased trade with the US and Africa, and in order to help eligible countries maximise AGOA benefits, the US is sponsoring the East and Central Africa Regional AGOA Sectoral Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 25 and 26, 2005.

The US Embassy in Ethiopia is hosting the workshop in collaboration with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the East and Central Africa Global Competitiveness Hub based in Nairobi, and the Office of the US Trade Representative.
It is exciting that Addis has the chance to host this important event,” said US Chargé d’Affaires Vicki Huddleston, and to showcase how Ethiopia, along with so many other countries in Africa, is benefiting from AGOA.”
The programme is designed to help producers in AGOA-eligible sectors learn how to break into the US market. It will bring together producers of hand-loomed and hand-woven textiles, interior decorating and handicraft items, and leather goods from East and Central Africa.

The participating nations are: Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Uganda.