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Government Programme - THEME COVERAGE

Wednesday 15 January 2003

 

Trade

Theme Coverage

10 30 – 12 00 hrs

AGOA: The Way Forward

 

Lead Agency: USTR

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Mauritius

United States Trade Representative Mr. Robert Zoellick will co-chair this session with his counterpart from Mauritius to foster an exchange of ideas on how to strengthen AGOA implementation, discuss strategies to help beneficiary countries take advantage of the opportunities offered by AGOA, address market access and regulatory issues in countries that diminish AGOA benefits, and provide an assessment of AGOA results since its enactment.

13 30 –15 30 hrs

Expanding Agricultural Productivity through Science, Technology and Trade

 

Lead Agencies: USAID and USDA

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Mozambique

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Ms. Ann Veneman and USAID Administrator Mr. Andrew Natsios will co-chair this session with a counterpart from Mozambique.  Presentations will include the Bush Administration’s commitment to the Agricultural Initiative to Cut Hunger in Africa, and will address the critical role science and technology can play in raising agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable way, with the goal of improving food security in the region.  In addition, means of stimulating regional and global agricultural trade through trade capacity building will be explored, as will the development of alliances between the public and private sectors to reduce market transaction costs.

16 00 – 17 00 hrs

Unleashing Market Forces by Strengthening Food Safety and SPS Infrastructure

 

Lead Agency: USDA

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Cameroon

US Department of Agriculture will co-host this session with a counterpart from Cameroon. During this session senior officials will discuss building human and institutional capacity to strengthen linkages with Sub-Saharan Africa on food safety and animal/plant health regulations that comply with WTO Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreements.  The session will examine opportunities to enhance participation in international standard setting bodies and improve cooperation on international food safety and SPS issues. Participants will explore the current legal environments in Africa that affect development of WTO-consistent approaches to food safety and animal/plant health regulations, and the successes or difficulties of regional approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa will be explored.

 

Trade

Theme Coverage

16 00 – 17 00 hrs

 

Transportation as a Catalyst for Trade

 

Lead Agency: US Department of Transportation

 

Africa Co-chair: COMESA

This breakout session will be co-chaired by Associate Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mr. Jeffrey Shane and his counterpart from COMESA. Workshop objectives are:

 

(i)                   to illustrate the importance of a safe and secure transportation system in the development of economic growth and trade;

(ii)                 to impress upon the audience the importance of transportation as an absolute necessary component in the growth of trade;

(iii)                to provide examples of ways DOT and its partner agencies, working individually and together, have assisted and can assist Africa in its infrastructure and human capacity development;

(iv)                to provide information on infrastructure projects and technical assistance financing needs.  The US Trade Development Agency and Overseas Private Investment Corporation will also participate.

17 00 – 18 00 hrs

 

Regional Hubs for Global Competitiveness

 

Lead Agency: USAID

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Botswana

 This break-out session will be co-chaired by USAID Assistant Administrator Ms. Emmy Simmons, and her counterpart from Botswana.  The session will present the main components and objective of the Trade for African Development and Enterprise (TRADE) Initiative, against the needs and priorities of African governments in terms of  trade capacity building, and will expand on plans of the three Regional Hubs, a main component of the TRADE Initiative.  The session aims at discussing how the Regional Hubs and the TRADE Initiative can better respond and service regional and country level needs for trade development and capacity building.  Representatives of all three Regional Hubs, West, Eastern and Central, and Southern, will be present at the session.

 

Thursday 16 January 2003

 

Conditions for Investment

Theme Coverage

09 00 – 10 30 hrs

 

Mobilising Capital for Development

 

Lead Agency:US State Department   

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Senegal

US State Department Under Secretary Mr. Alan Larson will co-chair this session with a counterpart from Senegal.  The session will focus on how African countries can better mobilise

capital – domestic and foreign - for use in spurring development and prosperity.  The session will include discussions of models for mobilising capital already operating in Africa.

10 30 – 12 00 hrs

 

Overcoming Obstacles to Trade and Investment

 

Lead Agency: US Commerce Department

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of  South Africa

US Department of Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Mr. Grant Aldonas will lead a plenary discussion in partnership with his counterpart from South Africa on identifying and removing impediments to increased trade and investment under AGOA. The discussion will identify problems African businesses encounter in attracting U.S. business partners, as well as impediments to market access that U.S. businesses encounter in Africa. It would also include a discussion with financial institution representatives on financing options, since financing has been identified as a major impediment to increased trade, a look at problems with transportation and infrastructure, an examination of Customs systems, and an understanding of the effect of the AIDS crisis on capital markets.

13 30 – 15 00 hrs

 

Raising Productivity,

Improving   Standards of Living, and  Promoting Job- 

creating  Economic Growth in

Africa

 

Lead Agency: US Treasury Department

  

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Uganda

US Treasury Under Secretary Mr. John Taylor will co-chair this session with a counterpart from Uganda. This session will focus on discussion of how the importance of improving productivity in helping African economies is the key to achieving

job-creating economic growth.

14 30 – 15 30 hrs

 

Textile Trade Post 2004

(This session will be held at the Private Sector Forum at Radisson Plaza Hotel)

 

Lead Agencies: US Commerce Department and USTR

 

Africa Co-chair: Kingdom of Lesotho

US Trade Representative Mr. Robert B. Zoellick and Lesotho Industry, Trade and Marketing Minister Hon. Mpho Malie will open this session. The session will be a joint public and private breakout session that will discuss AGOA’s apparel and textile benefits and examine the future of US-African textile and apparel trade including the impact of the elimination of global quotas and the expiration of AGOA third-country fabric provisions for least developed countries.  This session consists of three parts:-

(i)   opening remarks by US Trade Representative Mr. Robert

       B. Zoellick and Lesotho Industry, Trade and Marketing

       Minister Mpho Malie,

(ii)  a US Department of Commerce presentation on AGOA’s 

       apparel benefits, and

(iii) a panel discussion with US and African Government

       Officials and apparel and textile industry representatives.

 

Conditions for Investment

Theme Coverage

15 00 – 16 00 hrs

 

Prosperity and Good Governance

 

Lead Agency:US State Department

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Benin

US State Department Under Secretary Mr. Alan Larson will co-chair this session with a counterpart from Benin.  This session will discuss the relationship between good governance and development, the need for good governance as condition to attract investment, and reducing corruption as a major impediment to prosperity.

16 00 - 1700 hrs

 

Connecting Africa: The New Wireless Revolution

 

Lead Agency:US State Department

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Mali

 

US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy Mr. David Gross will co-chair this session with a counterpart from Mali.  The session will focus on the role that information and communication technology (ICT) can play in integrating Africa into the global economy and enhancing economic development, and will expose senior officials to new technologies that would be appropriate in the African Context.  Participants will also discuss steps countries can take to make a more welcoming environment for ICT- related investment.

16 00 - 17 00 hrs

 

Presentation on IFC / SME Initiative

 

Lead Agency: US Treasury Department

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Ghana

 

US Treasury Under Secretary Mr. John Taylor will co chair this session with a counterpart from Ghana.  The session will discuss the importance of strengthening financial sectors as a key to economic growth, in particular the need for increasing the availability of credit to small and medium enterprises. 

Special Event

16 00 - 18 30 hrs

 

US-SSA Common Interests & Cooperation on the Doha Development Agenda

 

Lead Agency: USTR

 

Africa Co-chair: Kingdom of Lesotho

US Trade Representative Mr. Robert Zoellick will co-chair this special session with his counterpart from Lesotho. It will be open to Trade Ministers only. This session will provide an opportunity for US and African Governments to exchange insights and views on key WTO issues and discuss priorities and approaches.  Ambassador Zoellick and the Trade Ministers will advance ideas on how to work cooperatively on our common agenda of reducing trade-distorting agriculture subsidies, lowering barriers to industrial products, and building trade capacity among African nations.

  

Friday 17 January 2003

 

 

Investing In People

Theme Coverage

09 00 – 10 30 hrs

 

HIV/AIDS as a Development Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

 

Lead Agency: USAID

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Nigeria

This plenary session will be co-chaired by USAID Administrator Mr. Andrew Natsios and his counterpart from Nigeria and will feature presentations by other experts, including Professor Alan Whiteside of the University of Natal, Mrs. Tsetsele Fantan from the Debswana Diamond Company in Botswana, and an African trade union representative.  The discussion will focus on issues such as HIV/AIDS multi-sectoral programs, and the fueling effect of poverty and hunger.  The audience will seek a better understanding of the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa, its implications for trade and investment opportunities, and the urgency for accelerated actions by all stakeholders.

10 30 – 11 30 hrs

 

Health Care Industry

 

Lead Agency: US Commerce Department

 

Africa Co-chair: Republic of Kenya

US Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Trade Development Ms. Linda Conlin and a counterpart from the Kenyan Government will lead a panel discussion designed to highlight the link between health care, trade and economic development in Africa.  The session will identify means to build and strengthen Africa’s health care system by supporting public/private partnerships, evaluating current opportunities in this sector, and identifying what approaches have worked as well as barriers to further investment in health care.  Finally, the group will outline U.S Government programs and private institutions that support health care initiatives, and focus on ways to support Africa’s private health care sector and maximise AGOA benefits.

Special Event

10 30 - 12 00 hrs

 

Dialogue on Millennium Challenge Account

 

Lead Agencies: USAID/US State Department and US Treasury Department

 

Africa Co-chairs: Republic of Mauritius/African Union

USAID Administrator Mr. Andrew Natsios, State Under Secretary Mr. Alan Larson, and Treasury Under Secretary Mr. John Taylor will lead a session to discuss current US thinking about the Millennium Challenge Account, and to solicit input from African attendees about the structure of this new program.

 

This session will be co-chaired by Hon. K.C. Khushiram, Minister of Economic Development, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs and Mr. V. Makhan, Interim Commissioner, African Union

 

2nd US-SSA Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum

 

Government Programme

 

Wednesday 15 January 2003 

0945-1015 hrs

Opening Ceremony will be performed by the

Right Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, P.C., K.C.M.G, Q.C., Prime Minister of Mauritius

                         And

Mr. Robert Zoellick, US Trade Representative

 

 

 

Trade

 Plenary  Sessions

 

Time

Theme

Lead Agency

Africa Co-Chair

1030-1200 Hrs

AGOA: The Way Forward

USTR

Mr. Robert Zoellick

 

Republic of Mauritius

Hon. Jaya Krishna Cuttaree,

Minister of Industry and International Trade

 

Lunch   1200 –1330 Hrs

1330-1530 Hrs

Expanding Agricultural Productivity through Science, Technology and Trade

USDA/USAID

US Secretary for Agriculture

Ms. Ann Veneman and USAID Administrator

Mr. Andrew Natsios

Republic of Mozambique

Hon. Helder Muteia,

Minister of Agriculture

 

Breakout  Sessions

1600-1700 Hrs

Unleashing Market  Forces by Strengthening Food Safety and SPS Infrastructure

US Department of

Agriculture

 

Republic of Cameroon

Hon. Bello Bouba,

Minister of Trade and Industry

1600-1700 Hrs

Transportation as a Catalyst for Trade

Department of Transportation

Associate Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Mr. Jeffrey Shane

COMESA

Mr. Erastus J.O. Mwencha,

Secretary General

1700-1800 Hrs

Regional Hubs for Global Competitiveness

USAID

Assistant Administrator

Ms. Emmy Simmons

Republic of Botswana

Hon. Jacob Nkate,

Minister of Trade and Industry

Evening Events

1830-1930 Hrs

Interactive Session on

 Future of US-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Engagement

with the participation of USTR Mr. Robert Zoellick and Hon. J.K. Cuttaree, Minister of Industry and International Trade and moderated by Ambassador Andrew Young at

      Paul Octave Wiehé Auditorium, University of Mauritius

2000 Hrs

Reception Hosted by US Government

         


 

 

Thursday 16  January 2003 

 

Conditions For Investment

 

Plenary Sessions

 

Time

Theme

Lead Agency

Africa Co-Chair

0900-1030 Hrs

Mobilising Capital for Development

US State Department

Under Secretary Mr. Alan Larson

Republic of Senegal

Hon. Ms. Agne Pouye,

Minister of  Commerce

1030-1200 Hrs

 

Overcoming Obstacles to Trade and Investment

 

US Department of Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade

Mr. Grant Aldonas

Republic of South Africa

Hon. Alec Erwin,

Minister of Trade and Industry

Lunch 1200-1330 Hrs

1330-1500 Hrs

Raising Productivity, Improving Standards of Living and Promoting Job-creating  Growth in Africa

Treasury Department

US Treasury Under Secretary

Mr. John Taylor

Republic of  Uganda

Prof. Edward Rugamayo,

Minister of Trade

1430-1530 Hrs

Textile Trade Post 2004

(This session will be held at the Private Sector Forum, Radisson Plaza Hotel)

USTR

Mr. Robert  Zoellick

Kingdom of Lesotho

Hon. Mpho Malie,

Minister of Industry, Trade and Marketing

 

Breakout Sessions

1500-1600 Hrs

Prosperity and Good Governance

US State Department

Under Secretary

Mr. Alan Larson

Republic of Benin

Hon. Iazare Sehoueto,

Minister of Trade and Industry

1600-1700 Hrs

 

Connecting Africa:

The New Wireless Revolution

US Coordinator for International Communications  and Information Policy

Mr. David Gross

Republic of Mali

Hon. Gaoussou Drabo,

Minister of Communication & Information Technology

 

1600-1700 Hrs

Presentation on IFC/SME Initiative

Treasury Department

US Treasury Under Secretary

Mr. John Taylor

Republic of Ghana

Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo,

Minister of Finance

Special Event

1600-1830 Hrs

US-SSA Common Interests & Cooperation on the DOHA Development Agenda

USTR

Mr. Robert Zoellick

 

Kingdom of Lesotho

Hon. Mpho Malie,

Minister of Industry,Trade and Marketing

Evening Functions

1830-1915 Hrs

Cultural Show at Indira Gandhi Centre For Indian Culture, Phoenix

1945 Hrs

Reception Hosted By Government Of Mauritius


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 17 January 2003

 

Investing in People

 

Plenary  Session

 

 

Time

Theme

Lead Agency

Africa Co-Chair

0900-1030 Hrs

HIV/AIDS as a Development Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

USAID

Administrator

Mr. Andrew Natsios

Republic of Nigeria

Mr. Magnus L. Kapkol,

Chief Economic Advisor to President of Nigeria

 

Breakout Session

1030-1130 Hrs

Health Care Industry

US Department of Commerce

Assistant Secretary for  Trade Development

Ms. Linda Conlin

Republic of Kenya

Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi,

Minister of Industry and Trade

Special  Event

1030 - 1200 Hrs

Dialogue on Millennium Challenge Account

USAID Administrator

Mr. Andrew Natsios,

US State Under Secretary  

Mr. Alan Larson and

US Treasury Department Under Secretary Mr. John Taylor

Republic of Mauritius

Hon. K.C. Khushiram,

Minister of Economic Development, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs

 

Mr. Vijay Makhan,

Interim Commissioner for Economic Development, African Union

 

1200-1230 Hrs

Closing Ceremony 

         

                                                   

                                                               

 

 

 

 

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