We are ready to offer assistance for AfCFTA – US Deputy Secretary of Agric

United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Stephen Lee Censky has said the US government is committed to lending support to ensure the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is a success.

The aim of the trade agreement is to create an enabling environment for the free movement of goods and services within some 52 African countries that have consented to the agreement.

Mr. Censky lauded leadership of the various African countries for coming together to boost trade amongst themselves through the agreement.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with 3news Portia Gabor, the US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture noted the US is impressed by the move and is more than willing to lend its help to make trading amongst the countries a fruitful venture.

“We are directly supportive of the continental free trade agreement in Africa and we are very excited about that.

“We really look forward to engaging with the secretariat here in Ghana…as well as with the nations as we go forward in implementing this agreement.

“We think it is a great opportunity for harmonizing standards and bringing down border restrictions that can sometimes frustrate trade, and so we from the US look forward to engaging as we move forward to implement this and stand ready to assist as well.”

The US Deputy Agriculture Secretary further commended Ghana for being chosen to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.

US-Africa trade relations

Mr. Censky who is in Ghana for the West Africa Trade Mission said, Africa is a hub for trade and investment opportunities, hence the US interest in exploring these prospects.

“We have about 40 US companies who are interested in doing business in West Africa…and they are looking for trade and investment opportunities.”

“One of the key components of the ‘Prosper Africa’ initiative of the US administration is trade and investment…,” Mr. Censky explained.

He said a lot of companies in the US interested in investing in Africa will get an opportunity through the trade mission to discover and identify their area of interest.

The trade mission which began on Monday October 28 in Accra will end on October 31.

Business owners and government officials from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia as well as some other African countries are partaking in the trade mission.