LAUNCHING THE African Growth and OpportunitY Act (AGOA) ZONAL WORKSHOP SERIES
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The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Zonal Workshop Series kicked off last Friday, January 29th 2010 at the United States/Bank of Industry AGOA Resource Center at the Bank of Industry Headquarters in Marina, Lagos. The aim of the Workshop Series was to go beyond AGOA definitions by coaching Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises to operationalize the methodologies and techniques involved in successfully exporting to the US.

On hand to demonstrate this new approach, were the US Ambassador, Robin Renee Sanders and BOI-MD who demonstrated their leadership and commitment by facilitating an 8-hour practical session on the technicalities of AGOA and access to finance; and as a result, helped prepare 25 owners of Small- and Medium Scale Enterprises to overcome the barriers they face when exporting to the US.

The intensive session was a taster of the zonal training workshops which will commence in selected states across the zones, where the top ten competitive products within each zone will be used to delineate the requirements involved in exporting to the US. The training will thoroughly explain the process and requirements for exporting to the US market, and will mentor participants to meet those requirements.

The zonal strategy will be facilitated by Rimsom Associates. It is envisaged that, by the end of the Workshop Series, there will be a cohort of Nigerian entrepreneurs who have been equipped and are taking full advantage of the benefits of AGOA, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.