ZAMBIA KICKSTARTS AGOA 2011 PREPARATORY MEETINGS

Mrs. Sheila Siwela

Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mrs. Sheila Siwela says  she is optimistic  that Zambia will host a successful African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA Forum) summit scheduled to take place in Lusaka from 7^th – 8^th June, 2011.

Mrs. Siwela said the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in the United States was engaged in a number of consultative meetings with various stakeholders.

She stated during an interview in Washington DC that she has had fruitful  meetings  with  some African Ambassadors, officials  from the Department of State, United States Trade Representative for Africa as well as the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)

“Meeting with my counterparts Ambassador David Rantekoa  and Ambassador Amina Ali from the Embassy of Lesotho and the African Union (AU)mission in Washington DC  respectively as well as officials from the United States Trade Representative for Africa (USTR) such as Ms. Flori Liser, Mr. Anthony Newton from the office of Economic Policy, Department of State has created a basis for a positive foundation regarding the 2011 AGOA Forum,” she added.

Ambassador Siwela  was also recently in Lusaka where she consulted extensively with senior government leaders that included Hon. Felix Mutati the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry as well as her opposite counterpart Ambassador Mark Storella, United States Ambassador to Zambia.

Ambassador  Siwela said preparatory meetings  were meant to afford stakeholders an opportunity to exchange views on how best to move forward with the 2011 AGOA Forum.

She also added that the AGOA Forum would afford Zambia a chance to showcase her economic and tourism potential.

“We feel greatly honoured tha the  AGOA Forum will give chance to Zambian business people to engage counterparts from the USA in creating business partnerships,” she said.

This is contained in a press statement released by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian High Commission in Washington DC Ben Kangwa.