Accra, Ghana – The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), today opened an African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade Resource Center in Accra in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  The aim of the Center, one of 15 across West Africa, is to increase the value of exports from the region by guiding businesses to access regional and global markets for agricultural and value-added trade.  The end result, say organizers, will be increased exports.  This, in turn, will spur greater competitiveness, lead to more jobs, and be a a powerful foundation for broad-based economic growth.

The AGOA Trade Resource Center will be a one-stop shop for local export-oriented companies to learn about regional and international trade opportunities, particularly those available under AGOA, a tariff preference program enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2000 to increase exports from eligible sub-Saharan African countries.  The Center will provide targeted business advisory services and training to local businesses; help them to better understand the international demand for certain products and the technical requirements for market access; and facilitate regional and export market linkages.

“Together, we are laying a foundation for Ghanaian exporters to successfully meet the demands of the global marketplace for quantity, quality and timeliness,” said Anthony Chan, Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID Africa Bureau, at the Center’s opening.  “As we help small and medium enterprises -- especially those owned by women -- become more competitive, they will be able to take advantage of a wide range of regional selling opportunities, as well as AGOA’s duty-free benefits for exports to the United States.”

“The AGOA Trade Resource Center is open for business,” said Kwesi Amanfu, who will coordinate the Center.  “We have received training from the USAID West Africa Trade Hub and have a variety of documentation and training materials available that business managers can use to become more export-ready.”  Located at Ghana’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Center will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.