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    Hub Happenings 


    Hub Happenings, July 2010
    From June 7 to 8, Godwin Punungwe, Transport Advisor, and Ranga Munyaradzi, Senior Customs Advisor, facilitated the Dar Corridor Committee (DCC) User Pay Principle (UPP) Implementation Task Team meeting in Tanzania. The meeting was convened to get feedback on progress with the process of seeking approval from Task Team members’ respective governments regarding the proposed implementation of the UPP Model and the draft Memorandum of Understanding between Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, as well as to agree on next steps. Following the Task Team members’ presentations, the meeting agreed to urgently meet with the Tanzania Director of Transport Services to seek confirmation of the adoption of the UPP and request the ministry to urgently communicate with Tanzania Port Authority and Surface and Marine Regulatory Authority before agreeing on a revised Action Plan to facilitate implementation of the UPP by July 1, 2010.

    Hub Happenings Archive 

    Hub HappeningsHub HappeningsThe Hub Happenings newsletters are produced to inform you of the Hub's monthly activities including AGOA, exportable agricultural products, customs modernization and transport, trade capacity building, energy and finance, outreach and dialogue for competitiveness, and recent highlights.

     

    The newsletters are sorted by date


    Hub Happenings, June 2010
    The Trade Hub has undertaken several trade-related technical assistance activities aimed at assisting Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitate trade and encourage foreign direct investment into the region. Since January, Paulina Elago, former Deputy Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB) Project and now a part time Trade Hub Consultant, audited the status of implementation of the recommendations from the 2005 Namibia Investor Roadmap. The Roadmap detailed administrative, procedural and regulatory barriers that may hinder investment in Namibia and made specific recommendations for improvement. The audit reviewed the status of implementation of the 2005 Namibia Investor Roadmap recommendations and the accompanying action plan for addressing each of these aspects. Ultimately, the goal of the audit is to review progress, detail investor sentiment and provide an action plan needed to implement the remaining reforms from the 2005 Roadmap. The Investor Roadmap and related action plans aim to make Namibia more competitive and to be an attractive destination for investors with a view to encourage investment in new and existing businesses that lead to increased job opportunities and economic growth.


    Hub Happenings, May 2010
    From April 14 to 16, the Trade Hub held the sixth Textiles & Apparel Business to Business (B2B) Event at the Cape Town International Convention Center in South Africa. The B2B Event brings together buyers and sellers from various parts of Africa as well as from the U.S. and Europe. The 2010 event was the biggest ever with a record number of buyers attending. Initial feedback from the participants, most of whom were new buyers attending the event and meeting with textile manufacturers from Africa for the first time, was very positive. Follow-up work on the event will continue during the coming months. Todd Thompson, the Trade Hub’s Director of Trade Competitiveness, Jane Shearer, African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade and Business Manager and Boi Kuhlmann, Program Assistant/Accountant attended the three day event.


    Hub Happenings, April 2010
    Peter Mabeo started his company in 1997, producing furniture for the Botswana market. During the initial years, most of the jobs were customized furniture needs for corporations. As the company began to flourish, it started looking at ways of expanding and diversifying its products. Mabeo Furniture Company first went into international markets in 2002 and attended their first International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in 2006 in New York City. At this show, they were featured in a New York Times article and also won the Best Craftsmanship Award. The company has since gone on to win several other awards. Due to the profile created through successfully participating at the ICFF, Mabeo Furniture has been able get representation from a major U.S retailer, executed a major hotel project on 5th Avenue in New York City, as well as gaining access to other international markets. In addition to supporting Mabeo’s appearance at the ICFF for four years, the Trade Hub has provided a consultant who helped with distribution issues and a Georgetown MBA student who assisted in the writing of a business plan. Recently, the Trade Hub sponsored Peter Mabeo to travel to Mozambique to meet with suppliers of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood. Peter Mabeo will now be buying directly from these suppliers, thus cutting his input costs considerably.


    Hub Happenings, March 2010
    On February 25, Maxine Kennett, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB) and Manager of the Trade Hub, left the Trade Hub after more than three years. A British qualified lawyer (solicitor) with a Ph.D. in international trade law from the University of Bern and a master's degree in international law and economics (MILE) from the World Trade Institute in Switzerland, Maxine Kennett has over 10 years of experience in commercial law, international trade law and trade policy issues. She joined the Trade Hub in October 2006 after working as the Director of Trade Policy and Market Access of the USAID-funded Izdihar Project in Iraq, where she assisted the Government of Iraq with their application to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Before that, the focus of her work was on trade facilitation and trade policy issues in Southern Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East. She will be joining the International Development Law Organization in Rome, Italy, as the Manager of Economic Growth & Trade


    Hub Happenings, February 2010
    Bridget Chilala, Director of Trade Capacity Building, left the Trade Hub at the end of January after five years. She joined the Trade Hub at its inception in 2005 from the Commonwealth Secretariat. Before then she was Zambia’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Director of Trade in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. At the Trade Hub, Bridget Chilala, an economist, worked very closely with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat on trade policy and agricultural trade activities. During her stay at the Trade Hub, she assisted the SADC region with trade policy formulation and implementation, international trade issues and regional integration. Among her many achievements with the Trade Hub are that she spearheaded the SADC Trade Monitoring and Compliance Mechanism and drafted the User Guide. In addition, she also authored the Trade Hub sponsored Guide to the SADC Protocol on Trade.


    Hub Happenings, December 2009 - January 2010
    In November, Todd Thompson, the Trade Hub’s Director of Trade Competitiveness Project and Jane Shearer, African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade and Business Manager, visited several agricultural and food processing companies in Mozambique including Elephant Pepper, a Southern African chili product manufacturer, which recently expanded its farming operations into Mozambique. The Trade Hub has been working with Elephant Pepper for several years and the Mozambique farm is the newest addition to this dynamic company. The new project expects to create over 1,000 additional jobs in Mozambique. The Elephant Pepper Development Trust (EPDT) works with rural farmers to grow chilies for elephant deterrent schemes – such as chili-laced fences with cowbells or chili dung briquettes – to keep elephants from raiding their subsistence crops as elephants are repelled by capsaicin, the substance that makes chilies hot. EPDT also helps mitigate a wildlife-human conflict that often leaves elephants dead and the food security of communities threatened. For more information on Elephant Pepper’s product lines and the EPDT, visit www.elephantpepper.com or www.elephantpepper.org.


    Hub Happenings, November 2009
    On October 13, Paulina Elago, Deputy Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB), and Keith Jefferis, Economic Advisor, presented findings of a Trade Hub study on the banking sector in Botswana following a request from the Botswana Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to carry out an assessment and analysis of the financial services sector with specific focus on the banking sector. The meeting provided a platform for dialogue between the public and private sector in preparation for services negotiations with the European Union (EU).


    Hub Happenings, October 2009
    Following Amanda Hilligas’ departure, Todd Thompson who had been the Trade Hub’s AGOA Trade and Business Manager since April is the new Trade Competiveness Director while Jane Shearer has takeover Todd Thompson’s position. Before joining the Trade Hub, Todd Thompson was the Country Manager for agri-business development projects in Zambia and Uganda, worked as an Agriculture Development Officer for USAID in Mozambique and gained agribusiness and cooperative development experience in the U.S. Todd Thompson also spent two years in the mid-90s in Botswana as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He possesses an MBA and a Masters in International Management. Jane Shearer brings private sector experience to the Trade Hub. She is a co-founder and co-owner of a specialty food and beverage company in the U.S. with both retail and wholesale outlets. In addition, Jane Shearer has been the main organizer for the Fancy Food Show in New York City for the Trade Hub in recent years. She has a Masters of Arts in International Relations.


    Hub Happenings, September 2009
    From August 3 to 7, Ranga Munyaradzi, Senior Customs Advisor, and Zizela Mawete, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Technical Officer, assisted Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) with the analysis and finalization of their Time Release Study (TRS). A TRS determines existing problems in Customs clearance processes, and the nature and reasons for these problems. The Lesotho TRS report, with conclusions, recommendations and action plan to remove the identified bottlenecks, was handed over to the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Thabo Letjama, on August 7. The findings of the study will not only be useful to LRA, but also to all traders and institutions involved in the Customs clearance process.


    Hub Happenings, August 2009
    From July 15 to 16, Maxine Kennett, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB),attended the United States (U.S.) Trade and Investment Conference in Maputo, Mozambique. The President of Mozambique, H.E. Armando Guebuza, officially opened the two day conference, with the Minister of Industry and Commerce, the Investment Promotion Center (CPI) and the Confederation of Business Associations in Mozambique (CTA) also making opening remarks. The conference was aimed at informing U.S. companies of business opportunities in key sectors in Mozambique. The presenters provided an overview of how to best enter the Mozambican market and utilize its services. The conference included a networking reception, co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy, in which prominent Mozambican businessmen and government officials had an opportunity to interact with prospective U.S. investors. On July 16, the U.S. Embassy in Maputo with their partners arranged one-on-one meetings for U.S. investors.


    Hub Happenings, July 2009
    From June 22 to 24, Ranga Munyaradzi, Senior Customs Advisor, and Godwin Punungwe, Transport Advisor, facilitated two Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workshops at the Trade Hub in Gaborone, Botswana, on Corridor Performance Monitoring Systems (CPMS) and Customs Systems Interface and Connectivity.


    Hub Happenings, June 2009
    From May 6 to 9, Maxine Kennett, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB), Amanda Hilligas, Director of Trade Competitiveness (TC) and Todd Thompson, African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade and Business Manager, attended USAID African Growth and Competitiveness Initiative (AGCI) meetings and met with the COMPETE project team in Nairobi, Kenya. Maxine and Amanda presented on Trade Hub activities with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and regional agricultural work using Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA) funding. The meeting was also attended by West African Trade Hub representatives.


    Hub Happenings, May 2009
    From April 6 to 7, Bridget Chilala, Director of Capacity Building, attended a North South Corridor (NSC) Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. Over 800 participants attended the conference including four African Heads of States and several Government ministers. Also in attendance was the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, Deputy Secretary General of the African Union (AU) as well as high level representatives from the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, International Trade Center, donor organizations and regional governments. The conference which was organized to attract donor support for funding of corridors activities raised US41.2 billion in pledges out of an expected US$5 billion.


    Hub Happening April 2009
    On March 11, Maxine Kennett, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB) and Amanda Hilligas, Director of Trade Competitiveness (TC) traveled to Maputo to brief the Mozambican Minister of Industry and Trade, H. E. Antonio Fernando, on Trade Hub activities in Mozambique and to discuss further cooperation on African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) activities.


    Hub Happening March 2009
    The USAID Trade Hub hosted a Regional Forum on "Enhancing Competitiveness in Southern Africa: A Roadmap for Success" at the Balalaika Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa from February 9 to 10. Over 200 participants attended the forum to discuss Southern Africa’s challenges to competitiveness and to share ideas on how to overcome these challenges given the impact of recent global financial changes. The forum was officially opened by United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Botswana and the Secretary of State’s Special Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), H. E. Ambassador Stephen Nolan, and by Eng. Joao Samuel Caholo, Deputy Executive Secretary of the SADC Secretariat. A forum report and all of the presentations can be downloaded from the Trade Hub web site at www.satradehub.org.


    Hub Happening December 2008 - January 2009
    On October 31, the Trade Hub hosted the newly appointed United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Botswana and the Secretary of State’s Special Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), H. E. Ambassador Stephen Nolan, as well as the USAID Southern Africa Mission Director, Carleene Dei, and other U.S. Government staff. The guests met the Trade Hub team before being briefed on Trade Hub activities by Maxine Kennett, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building, and Amanda Hilligas, Director of Trade Competitiveness.


    Hub happenings, November2008
    On September 20, the Food Emporium, an upscale chain of supermarkets in New York City, unveiled the “Taste of Africa”. To celebrate this African specialty foods promotion, the Food Emporium hosted a special launch at their flagship store in New York City.


    Hub happening October2008
    From September 1 to 5, 2008, Lynn Harmon and Adriaan van der Merwe, both Short Term Technical Assistants (STTAs), Ranga Munyaradzi, Senior Customs Advisor, Kudzai Madzivanyika, Trade Facilitation Assistant, and Bevan Simataa of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) presented the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Feasibility Study to stakeholders in Gaborone, Botswana.


    Hub happenings, September2008
    Maxine Kennett (Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building Director) and Amanda Hilligas (Trade Competitiveness Director) participated in the “Just Business” Forum held from August 21 to 22 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Forum was organized by the American Business Association of Zimbabwe and included speakers on hyperinflation, the mining sector and other economic issues. Maxine Kennett and Amanda Hilligas made a presentation on AGOA and trade facilitation issues.


    Hub Happenings, August 2008
    In July, an endorsement by the Ministry of Works and Transport in Botswana led to the harmonizing of axle load limits on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC), thus making it the first SADC corridor with harmonized axle load limits from beginning to end (through South Africa, Botswana and Namibia). The endorsement is a significant milestone for the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC), and the USAID Trade Hub, in the quest to facilitate trade along the corridor.


    Hub Happenings, July 2008

    Amanda HilligasAmanda Hilligas, Director of the Trade Competitiveness Project, will travel to New York City to the 2007 Fancy Food Show, which will be held from July 8 to 10. Veronica Malama, the Trade Competitiveness Project Assistant, will join the delegation of Southern African companies to provide support to 15 companies displaying their products in the Africa Pavilion at the show. View the products of companies in the Africa Pavilion at www.specialtyfood.com/africa.




    Hub Happenings, June 2008
    On Thursday May 22, 2008, the United States Government and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate transport-related technical assistance from the USAID Trade Hub to the SADC Secretariat. The U.S. Government was represented by H.E. Katherine Canavan, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and the Secretary of State's Special Representative to SADC, and Mr. Gary Juste, Deputy Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office for Southern Africa in Pretoria, South Africa. SADC was represented by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Tomaz Salamão. The signing ceremony took place at the Trade Hub.


    Hub Happenings, April 2008
    The USAID Trade Hub facilitated rules of origin training for 29 participants from Botswana on March 17 and 18, at the Trade Hub, in Gaborone. From March 27 to 28, the Trade Hub also conducted training on rules of origin for Lesotho in response to a request from the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA). The training was attended by customs officers, trade and agriculture officials and the private sector.


    Hub Happenings, March 2008
    The USAID Trade Hub coordinated with the Trade Hubs in West and East Africa to organize an African Pavilion at the MAGIC Show in Las Vegas, from February 12 to 15, 2008. The Africa Pavilion was given the prestigious “Best in Show” award. Among the 16 companies from Africa that attended, 7 were from Southern Africa. While it is too early to quantify the deals from the MAGIC Show, it is estimated that US$ 10 million of new deals will be earned by the companies sponsored by the Trade Hub.


    Hub Happenings, February 2008
    The Framework Agreement for the Moatize Coal Fired Power Plant was signed between the Government of Mozambique and an Independent Power Producer (IPP) on December 19, 2007 which will lead to investment in the Mozambican energy sector of over US$2.7 billion. Trade Hub assistance was critical for this achievement, which further gave the Mozambican authorities the basis for an agreement signed a few days later with a private developer of the Mpanda Nkuwa Hydro Power Plant.


    Hub Happenings, December 2007 - January 2008
    The USAID Trade Hub participated in the Corporate Council on Africa’s (CCA) Summit entitled, “Africa: Entering the Door to Opportunities”, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 14 to 16. During the Summit, the Trade Hub held a workshop entitled, “Successful Development: Examining the Relationship between Trade and Investment”. The panel featured AGOA exporters and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The Trade Hub also sponsored five companies to attend the summit.


    Hub Happenings, November 2007
    During October, the USAID Trade Hub published a guide on preferential trade arrangements applicable to Lesotho. The guide is now being formatted for printing and public distribution in a user-friendly format. In the meantime, the report will be available in raw format on the Trade Hub website (www.satradehub.org) or from info@satradehub.org.


    Hub Happenings, October 2007
    During September the USAID Trade Hub published an in-depth review of legal and regulatory barriers to private sector energy investment, access to distribution and transmission facilities, and the operation of electricity markets in the Southern African region. The report, entitled, “Review of the Regulatory Framework for Power Generation and Distribution in Southern Africa”, will be available on the USAID Trade Hub website (www.satradehub.org) soon. In the meantime it can be requested from info@satradehub.org.


    Hub Happenings, September 2007
    In collaboration with stakeholders in Mozambique including USAID / Mozambique, the CTA and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the USAID Trade Hub held a Private Sector Advocacy Workshop in Maputo on August 20 and 21. More than 50 participants were in attendance to hear best practices in private sector advocacy and success stories from Romania, Brazil, and other African countries.


    Issue No. 43, October 2006
    After two years with the Trade Hub, Lisa Yarmoshuk, Director of Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB), will be leaving the project at the end of October to assume a new position with Nathan Associates in London, UK. Maxine Kennett will replace her as Director, effective October 1. Mrs. Kennett is a qualified lawyer in the UK and a trade law expert with a Ph.D. in international law. She previously led the Trade Policy and Market Access Component of a USAID project for the Government of Iraq. Ms. Yarmoshuk will continue to be involved with the TFCB Project on a short-term technical basis.


    Issue No. 44, November 2006
    On October 1, Maxine Kennett took up the position of Director, Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB). Mrs. Kennett is a qualified lawyer in the UK and a trade law expert with a Ph.D. in international law. She previously led the Trade Policy and Market Access Component of a USAID project for the Government of Iraq.


    Issue No. 45, Dec 2006 - Jan 2007
    USAID Trade Hub-sponsored Membership Campaign Coordinator for the Botswana Women in Business Association (WIBA), Leah Gabaeme, completed the membership campaign with an overall increase of WIBA membership of more than 270% in a 3-month period. She has been retained to assist WIBA with the implementation of a savings mobilization scheme as well as with regional microfinance issues as they impact businesswomen


    Issue No. 46, February 2007
    In December 2006 the USAID Trade Hub published the seventh issue of Inside Southern Africa Trade (INSAT), a special issue devoted to competitiveness issues in the region. Similar to the special �WTO Hong Kong� issue in December 2005, it features a series of high-profile interviews and was distributed in hard copy in January. To subscribe to INSAT, please send an e-mail to INSAT@satradehub.org.


    Issue No. 47, March 2007
    A Memorandum of Understanding between SADC Secretariat, the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone and USAID/Southern Africa opens the door for the USAID Trade Hub to provide support to SADC�s goals of increased trade and open borders within Southern Africa. The agreement, officially signed on February 27, enables the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to draw on technical assistance and capacity building from the USAID Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub (USAID Trade Hub) based in Gaborone, Botswana.


    Issue No. 42, September 2006
    The Southern Africa AGOA Workshop entitled �Expanding Processed Food Exports under AGOA� will take place from October 11 to 12 in Cape Town, South Africa (for more information see AGOA section below).


    Issue No. 41, August 2006
    On July 25 the USAID Trade Hub received the new Mission Director of USAID / Southern Africa, Erna Kerst, Supervisory General Development Officer, Michael Kerst, and the new U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Philip Drouin for a briefing on the Trade Hub�s activities and a tour of the facilities.


    Issue No. 33, November 2005
    From October 25 to 26, representatives from USAID/RCSA and the Trade Hub attended the first Regional AGOA Sectoral Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop is the first of three regional workshops to be held in Africa, and was attended by regional government officials, U.S. Government officials including the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and private sector representatives. The workshop focused on the leather and handicraft sub-sectors.


    Guide to Importers, April 2006
    The Practitioner's Guide to Importing Fresh Produce into South African Markets, is now available. Through this manual, the USAID Trade Hub seeks to assist exporters in SADC countries to the documentation required. The manual also provides detailed information on regulatory framework and protocols in South Africa.


    Issue No. 36, March 2006
    During March the USAID Trade Hub will publish the fourth issue of its flagship newsletter, Inside Southern African Trade (INSAT). This issue explores the role of the private sector in shaping the business environment in Southern Africa through participation in the policy-making process. It also features an exclusive interview with the new Executive Secretary of SADC, Mr. Tomaz Salomo.


    Issue No. 37, April 2006
    In March the USAID Trade Hub published the fourth issue of its flagship newsletter, Inside Southern African Trade (INSAT). This issue explores the role of the private sector in haping the business environment in Southern Africa through participation in the policy-making process. It also features an exclusive interview with former Hub SACU Advisor, Joshua Setipa, now Counsellor in the Office of the WTO Director General in Geneva, responsible for Development, Trade Related Assistance, Trade & Finance, WTO Accessions - ACP.


    Issue No. 39, June 2006
    The USAID Trade Hub held a regional Business Environment and Competitiveness Roundtable for more than 50 representatives from across southern Africa on May 23-24 in Johannesburg. The program included the launch of the Trade Hub's educational film series on trade issues. The keynote addresses was given by Niko Czypionka, Task Force Director, Botswana Business and Economic Advisory Council (BEAC). It was followed, on May 24 by an AGOA training session for selected representatives from each of the countries in southern Africa.


    Issue No. 32, October 2005
    The Trade Hub's SACU Trade Facilitation Advisor, Joshua Setipa, left the Trade Hub on September 16 to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) as Counselor in the Office of the Director General, Pascal Lamy. Mr. Setipa will be responsible for all development-related work and the WTO relationship with Africa and the Caribbean.


    Issue No. 40, July 2006
    After the launch of the USAID Trade Hub's educational film series on trade issues at the Trade Hub's Regional Business Environment Roundtable in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 23, the Trade Hub has received numerous requests for showings of the films. Since the launch on May 23, more than 700 people have seen the films at ten events both in the Southern African region and internationally.


    Issue No. 38, May 2006
    The USAID Trade Hub will hold a regional Business Environment and Competitiveness Roundtable for representatives from across Southern Africa on May 23 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The program will include the launch of the Trade Hub's Trade Film Series, and the keynote address will be given by Niko Czypionka, Task Force Director, Botswana Business and Economic Advisory Council, and former Chief Economist at Standard Bank in Johannesburg.


    Issue No. 35, February 2006
    In the second week of December the USAID Trade Hub published the third issue of its flagship newsletter, Inside Southern African Trade (INSAT). This special issue focuses on the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting, which took place from December 13 to 18, and features interviews with prominent individuals representing negotiating interests in the region, the private sector, civil society, regional organizations, and the WTO itself.


    Issue No. 34, December 2005 - January 2006
    On November 1 the Trade Hub hosted the Cattle Production and Marketing Policy Conference organized by the Botswana Cattle Producers Association (BCPA) to inform and enrich the policy formation process around the restructuring of the Botswana cattle production sub-sector.


    Issue No. 31, September 2005
    The Hub will host the Botswana launch of the book Reorienting the Compass: South Africa's African Trade Diplomacy by Peter Draper of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). The book launch will include a high-level roundtable discussion on the issues covered in the book.


    Issue No. 22, December 2004
    The AGOA Advisor, Amanda Hilligas, will speak on Botswana National Radio the first week of December. Ms. Hilligas will discuss Botswana's progress on AGOA to date, new opportunities under the AGOA III legislation, and a vision of the future trade partnership between the United States and Botswana under AGOA.


    Issue No. 24, February 2005
    The AGOA Advisor will visit Lesotho to conduct an assessment of the apparel industry in the post-quota environment.


    Issue No. 27, May 2005
    Beginning this month, in addition to the calendar of upcoming events and activities, Hub Happenings will also contain a section reflecting on recent highlights. Please turn to page 6 to see what we've been up to in the past month.


    Issue No. 23, January 2005
    The Mozambique is granted Category 9 benefits: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce will publish a notice in the Federal Register granting Mozambique Category 9 benefits under AGOA effective January 10, 2005. The AGOA Advisor will work with companies from Mozambique to find markets for the newly eligible products.


    Issue No. 30, August 2005
    The Hub sponsored a delegation of eighteen private and public sector participants, including three panelists, to the AGOA Forum in Dakar, Senegal from July 18 to 20. During the AGOA Forum a Regional Training Program was launched, and participants made significant contacts with regional and international buyers.


    Issue No. 29, July 2005
    On June 17, Keith Jefferis, Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building (TFCB) Economic Advisor, was guest speaker at a meeting between the Botswana Cattle Producers Association (BCPA) and the House of Chiefs to discuss the liberalization of trade in support of the modernization of the beef and cattle sector. This meeting resulted in an invitation from the Chairman of the House of Chiefs to the BCPA to continue working with them in publicizing the proposals.


    Issue No .26, April 2005
    Mr. John Lamb, Trade Competitiveness Technical Director, will travel to Botswana for the USAID/RCSA All-Partners meeting and to work with regional agricultural procedures on market access.


    Issue No. 28, June 2005
    On Monday, May 23, the Hub hosted a presentation by Dr. Keith Jefferis, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Botswana and currently working with the Hub as an economic advisor, on How Trade Liberalization Can Help to Revitalize the Beef and Cattle Sector in Botswana.


    Issue No. 25, March 2005
    Amanda Hilligas, AGOA Advisor and Joshua Setipa, SACU Trade Capacity Building Advisor, will travel to Swaziland to conduct a diversification seminar.


    Issue No. 13, March 2004
    The Trade Hub will host a series of seminars entitled, Marketing Textiles and Handicrafts to the United States. These valuable seminars will be held in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia.


    Issue No. 17, July 2004
    On Friday, June 25th, by unanimous consent, the United States Senate passed the AGOA III bill. The bill that was considered is identical to the House bill which passed on June 14, 2004. President Bush was a backer of the bill that Congress passed, so he is expected to sign the bill into law soon.


    Issue No. 20, October 2004
    The Online African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade Forum has been launched on the Hub's website at www.satradehub.org/forums Users of the forum can ask the AGOA Advisor questions on AGOA and other trade related issues, engage in discussions involving AGOA and trade with other businesses from the region, and voice concerns. To use the forum, sign on to the website link and register as a member. This is a free service offered by the Hub.


    Issue No. 18, August 2004
    The Trade Hub is pleased to announce the appointment of Phyllis Shearer Jones as its new AGOA Advisor. Ms. Jones is an AGOA expert with more than 25 years of experience in business, international trade policy and trade capacity building, development and implementation of international trade education programs in developing economies.


    Issue No. 19, September 2004
    With President Bush signing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 on July 13, importers are now able to request refunds from duties paid retroactive to October 1, 2000 (Section 8 of the AGOA Acceleration Act) because of the technical corrections to the knit-to-shape apparel provisions in Section 112(b) of the AGOA legislation.


    Issue No. 21, November 2004
    Amanda Hilligas will join the Hub as the AGOA Advisor beginning November 1. Ms. Hilligas has 10 years of experience working on economic development and trade issues in sub-Saharan Africa. She has traveled extensively in the region and has a thorough understanding of trade-related and business development problems in Africa. Most recently, Amanda served as the Southern Africa Desk Officer in the Market Access and Compliance Division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she served as a policy expert on AGOA, including the Category 9 provisions of the Act.


    Issue No. 15, May 2004
    The Trade Hub's Transportation Advisor and a Database Specialist will finalize consultation with stakeholders of the Dar es Salaam corridor to determine needs and specification of the database for the corridor. This follows the completion in May of similar consultations for the TKC.


    Issue No. 14, April 2004
    Three studies will be undertaken in the horticultural sector this month for USAID/RCSA. One study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the paprika supply chain especially from Africa to Western Europe and U.S. markets.


    Issue No. 16, June 2004
    The Trade Hub's short-term Transport Corridor Specialist will complete visits to stakeholders in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia and finalize the review and recommend actions to be taken to enhance multi modal operations, with a view to establishing establish seamless transport service along the Dar es Salaam corridor.


    Issue No. 12, February 2004
    Business Development Service (BDS) Database. A format has been designed to be used with the database associated with the Hub's collaborative effort with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). It is envisaged that the database will enable one to easily search for information and company contacts related to various products, production volumes, countries, and services.


    Issue No. 11, January 2004
    Building Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID) in Southern Africa. Key topics of the meeting include; (1) Cost effective and efficient means to develop business linkages and partnerships for small scale and medium scale farmers (2) Industry Clusters and "Product Baskets" (3) Gaps/Road Blocks in the agri-business supply chain and methods to reduce these road blocks/gaps


    Issue No. 4, March 2003
    Kathleen Charles will finalize AGOA Implementation Strategy action plan in Lusaka, Zambia in coordination with ZAMTIE and members of the Lead Committee formulated during the first workshop held last year.


    Issue No. 7, July 2003
    On July 10, 2003 President George W. Bush and His Excellency President Mogae of Botswana took a tour of the Southern African Global Competitiveness Hub's exhibits at the Gaborone International Convention Center. As the exhibitors spoke to the President many of them thanked him for AGOA and said it has made a difference in their lives and in the lives of those they employ.


    Issue No. 10, November 2003
    On November 3, 2003 the Trade Hub facilitated the signing of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Memorandum of Understanding (TKC MOU). The signing of this historic agreement by the Honorable Moses Amweelo, Minister of Works, Transport and Communication (Namibia); the Honorable Tebelelo Seretse, Minister of Works and Transport (Botswana); and the Honorable Abdullah Omar, Minister of Transport (South Africa) symbolizes the commitment of the three countries to remove the impediments to the efficient flow of commercial traffic along the Corridor.


    Issue No. 9, October 2003
    On October 8, 2003 the Hub will be facilitating the signing of the Dar es Salaam Corridor Committee Constitution. The Dar Corridor Committee Constitution will be signed by government representatives of Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania and will be witnessed by both public and private sector stake-holders.


    Issue No. 3, February 2003
    Participation by Hub AGOA advisor in US-Namibia AGOA Trade Conference in Windhoek January 29, 2003


    Issue No. 5, April 2003
    In preparation for the upcoming Home and Gift Trade Show in July, the Business Linkages Advisor will be holding a one-day seminar in Lesotho for small to medium-sized businesses to target and identify appropriate buyers, export requirements, and selling to the US. While in Lesotho, she will also be visiting CB Jeans, the next candidate to participate in the Hub's Direct Entrepreneurial Support program, and assisting Da Gama Textiles of South Africa with their fabric-selling mission to Lesotho.


    Issue No. 8, September 2003
    A work plan for the coming fiscal year to incorporate the findings and recommendations of the sector competitiveness assessment team as well roundtable participants will be completed in early September. The sector assessment team focused on agriculture, livestock, textiles and private sector capacity.


    Issue No. 6, May 2003
    Walter H. Kansteiner III, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs Officially Dedicates the Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub: On May 8, 2003 Assistant Secretary of State, Walter Kansteiner and Minister Jacob Dickie Nkate, Minister of Trade and Industry for Botswana will officially dedicate the Southern African Global Competitiveness Hub. The event will be hosted by Ambassador Joseph Huggins and will be attended by diplomats, government officials, and business leaders from countries throughout southern Africa.


    Issue No. 2, January 2003
    Hub visits and welcoming presentations being made by all Hub staff for the new Ambassador to Botswana, Mr. Joseph Huggins on January 10th and for Emmy Simmons, AA/EGAT/USAID on January 13th.


    Issue No. 1, November 2002
    Create training modules to facilitate dialogue and consensus-building exercises among public/private sector stakeholders in the process of national strategy formulation and implementation.


    Hub Happenings, August 2007
    The Trade Competitiveness Team accompanied a delegation of 15 Southern African companies to the 2007 Fancy Food Show in New York City from July 8 to 10. The companies displayed their products in the Africa Pavilion and participated in a Buyers Seminar. At the show, they received media coverage from The New York Times and the Food Network and several new AGOA trade deals are pending as a result of their participation.


    Hub Happenings, July 2007

    Amanda HilligasAmanda Hilligas, Director of the Trade Competitiveness Project, will travel to New York City to the 2007 Fancy Food Show, which will be held from July 8 to 10. Veronica Malama, the Trade Competitiveness Project Assistant, will join the delegation of Southern African companies to provide support to 15 companies displaying their products in the Africa Pavilion at the show. View the products of companies in the Africa Pavilion at www.specialtyfood.com/africa.




    Issue No. 50, June 2007
    Brett Johnson joins the USAID Trade Hub as the AGOA Trade and Business Manager in June. The former AGOA Advisor, Amanda Hilligas, is now Director of the Trade Competitiveness Project at the Trade Hub. Brett has been working for the CARANA Corporation in Arlington, Virginia, for the past four years, assisting companies from the Caribbean and Eastern Europe to develop market linkages and business practices necessary to compete in today's global economy. Most recently, he served as the home office project manager for a USAID trade and investment promotion project in Guyana. Brett majored in African studies and development economics in both his undergraduate and graduate programs.


    Issue No. 49, May 2007
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks expressions of interest from individuals or firms to provide Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) training, advice, technical services, advocacy and trade assistance to private sector representatives and public sector officials in the Southern Africa region. The service provider will work closely with the U.S. Foreign Agriculture Services SPS program team, APHIS attach, APHIS coordinator, USAID, and other stakeholders. The service provider will also develop and implement plant health, animal health, and food safety programs and activities in order to increase global competitiveness and expand agricultural trade from Southern Africa. More information concerning this announcement can be obtained at www.satradehub.org.


    Issue No. 48, April 2007
    The offices of USAID/Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana, will close by September 30, 2007. However, there will continue to be a small USAID Gaborone Field Office that will facilitate cooperation with SADC and oversee the USAID Trade Hub and the Integrated River Basin Management Program. The operations and mandate of the USAID Trade Hub will remain unchanged until September 2008.

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