Bush determines Ethiopia eligible for AGOA
Addis Ababa, December 23,2005 (WIC) - President George Bush has identified today 37 countries,including Ethiopia, as eligible for economic and trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).According to a White House statement released today, the president designated Burundi as an AGOA beneficiary country and removed Mauritania from the list of eligible countries this year.
The annual determination provides benefits for those countries that are making continued progress towards a market based economy, the rule of law, free trade,economic polices that would reduce poverty and protection of workers rights,the statement noted.
According to the statement, AGOA is a key pillar of the Administration’s steadfast commitment to trade liberalization to advance hope, opportunity, and prosperity in both developed and developing countries by reducing barriers to trade and investment.
AGOA eligible countries have benefited by the administration‘s policy to spur economic development, alleviate poverty and encourage trade in sub-Saharan Africa,the statement added.
