The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been at the core of U.S. economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa since its enactment in 2000. The trade agreement provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program according to the United States Trade Representative Office.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provides opportunities for Kenyan agro products, including those involving women and youth.
Under AGOA, women and youth in Kenya can benefit from the following opportunities:
- Market access
- Capacity building and training
- Access to finance and investment
- Value chain integration
- Networking and collaboration
- Product development
The Kenya Export and Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) has continued with its efforts in promoting women and youth led SMEs in venturing into export trade by identifying and accessing new export markets, promoting products and brands of youths and women exporters through various marketing and branding initiatives that are aimed at facilitating networking and collaboration where exporters can share experiences, build relationships and explore potential partnerships.
Additionally, the Agency supports women and youth by offering capacity building programs that cover various aspects of export trade, including market research, product development, packaging, pricing, and international trade regulations.