Zambia: Improving Business Skills Vital for Agoa-CUTS
All Africa.com, March 31, 2011

CUTS International has said improving business skills will help entrepreneurs to penetrate the United States (US) markets under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).Addressing Journalist in Lusaka, CUTS International acting centre coordinator Simon Ng'ona said promoting international business linkages would enhance the export base of Zambia's products entering the US markets."The Civil Society of Zambia expects the Government to develop and implement sound policies that are coherent and sustainable," Mr Ng'ona said.

He said Zambia should try to create an awareness of opportunities that exist under such initiatives to truly benefit from AGOA, Zambia needs to move away from traditional exports of primary commodities and diversify into value added products," he said.

Mr Ng'ona said there was also need to improve customs procedures enforcement and trade facilitation, improving technical standards and regulations as well as improving commercial law legislation and enforcement.

" It should be pointed out that there are several things Zambia can do to increase investment and take better advantages of trade opportunities under AGOA," he said.Mr Ng'ona said initiative such as removing trade policy barriers to interregional trade, developing and improving transportation infrastructure would help improve the export trends to the United States markets.

The forum which will be held in Lusaka in June this year will create an opportunity to promote a high level dialogue on trade and investment related issues between real businesses.It will also create a platform for American and African businesses to become integrated into the global economy where about 2000 participants including senior Government officials from both Africa and America, African Government ministers as well as US and Africa business and civil society organisation.The 2011 AGOA forum theme is , "Enhanced Trade through Increased Competitiveness, Value Addition and Deeper Regional Integration.

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