Professor Sir Gordon Conway speaks about Appropriate Science and Technology for African Agriculture at the AGOA Forum in Lusaka, Zambia.

The Conference was attended by approximately 150 people,  and was chaired by Jose Fernandez, Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, State Department.  Other attendees included Ministers of Agriculture and of Trade, Ambassadors, Senior AU officials including the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Deputy DG. 

About the AGOA Forum 2011  

On June 9-10, 2011, Zambia hosted the 2011 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, the centerpiece of the United States government's trade policy with sub-Saharan Africa.  The 2011 Forum marks the 10th year that government officials, business leaders, and civil society from African countries and the United States convened to promote trade, business, and investment opportunities that sustain economic development in Africa.  The 2011 Forum’s theme was “Enhanced Trade Through Increased Competitiveness, Value Addition and Deeper Regional Integration."

During the conference, there were sessions for the private sector and civil society as well as involvement of participants of the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP).  AWEP is an outreach, education and engagement initiative that aims to empower African women entrepreneurs to become voices of change in their communities.  Young business leaders also took part in activities around AGOA.  The civil society and private sector participants held separate pre-conference meetings on June 6th and then presented their findings to the ministerial meetings starting the subsequent day.

The AGOA Forum brings together over 600 participants, including senior U.S. and African officials, as well as U.S. and African members of the private sector and civil society.  AGOA represents a progressive U.S. trade and investment policy toward the continent working to reduce barriers to trade, increase diversified exports, create jobs and expand opportunities for Africans.  AGOA provides trade preferences to 37 Sub-Saharan African countries that are making progress in economic and political reforms.