Engagements for AGOA extension ongoing - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says his administration is engaging with United States officials for an extention to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The agreement gives certain African countries preferential access to the US market.
Ramaphosa spoke on the sidelines of the Africa Day celebrations at the Cradle of Humankind on Thursday.
AGOA is set to come to an end in 2025.
Ramaphosa said he doesn't believe the recent diplomatic spat with the US over allegations that SA supplied weapons to Russia will impact the discussions.
“I have not heard that they are reconsidering. We are going to be engaging in discussions, not only as South Africa but also as a number of other countries on the African continent about AGOA.
"So this is going to happen in the normal course so I will not elevate what we spoke about to a level of saying that is going to be one of the reasons they are going to use.
“AGOA's time is coming to a termination or renewal, so we will like other countries will engage with the Americans to an extent and that is the normal course.”
Africa Day celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, which later became known as the African Union.
At the same time, Ramaphosa said the day needs to reaffirm the importance of democracy and consolidating good governance across Africa.
“The African Peer Review Mechanism will continue to enjoy our full support and cooperation.
“This Africa Day we commit ourselves to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and to pursing national policies that advance gender equality, reduce poverty, inculcate sustainability into all aspects of our lives, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
He added that Africans have different languages and have different customs, faiths and traditions but are bound together by the invisible thread of Africanness.
“Our Africanness is our respect for our many differences. Our Africanness is our empathy and compassion for those less fortunate.
“There are times when we do not live up to these ideals. There are times when we fall short. But we need to strive for these values every day. Our Africanness is our largeness of spirit and our capacity to strive for co-existence, even with those who have wronged us.”
ALSO READ:
