Comments on: African Growth and Opportunity Act http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/ The voice of Africa, from all over the world Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:24:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sadia http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-333 Sadia Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:08:50 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-333 You are right about confidence. We find ourselves saying 'they' have not done this or 'they' have done this wrong and I stopped myself one day and thought who are 'they'. Why cannot 'they' be me?<br>That's how I left my job and started the childcare service I wanted after saying for a while that 'they' did not provide the right hours for working parents!<br>The same thing is driving my new venture now. You are right about confidence. We find ourselves saying 'they' have not done this or 'they' have done this wrong and I stopped myself one day and thought who are 'they'. Why cannot 'they' be me?
That's how I left my job and started the childcare service I wanted after saying for a while that 'they' did not provide the right hours for working parents!
The same thing is driving my new venture now.

]]> By: idahorner http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-332 idahorner Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:01:19 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-332 Yes there is a real disparity there and almost a lack of confidence in our own abilities! Yes there is a real disparity there and almost a lack of confidence in our own abilities!

]]> By: Tweets that mention African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the Blog -- Topsy.com http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-334 Tweets that mention African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the Blog -- Topsy.com Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:38:26 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-334 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tony Burkson, Africa Onthe Blog. Africa Onthe Blog said: Commenting on: Comment on African Growth and Opportunity Act by idahorner http://ow.ly/18yUKH [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tony Burkson, Africa Onthe Blog. Africa Onthe Blog said: Commenting on: Comment on African Growth and Opportunity Act by idahorner http://ow.ly/18yUKH [...]

]]> By: Sadia http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-328 Sadia Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:25:15 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-328 Never heard of this Ida. I am going to ask a friend at home(SL) who should know.<br>Issue is how do we become competitive ourselves as the larger, more advanced companies will always be in a better position to take advantage of benefits as the one you describe if we do not start working together at country and regional levels. We as Africans are still just too fragmented in our offerings. Instead of the checks on the US side who in the African countries taking advantage of this is checking whether it is their own home grown businesses who benefit. I wonder? Never heard of this Ida. I am going to ask a friend at home(SL) who should know.
Issue is how do we become competitive ourselves as the larger, more advanced companies will always be in a better position to take advantage of benefits as the one you describe if we do not start working together at country and regional levels. We as Africans are still just too fragmented in our offerings. Instead of the checks on the US side who in the African countries taking advantage of this is checking whether it is their own home grown businesses who benefit. I wonder?

]]> By: idahorner http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-324 idahorner Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:15:05 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-324 Welcome to the discussion Tony. Yes AGOA does indeed have the potential to offer routes out of poverty. Apart from Oil and textiles I am not sure what other items are included in this scheme, but I suspect not many if at all.<br><br>The reason why African countries cannot trade with each is a real puzzle to most folk. They are easily many more consumers in Africa than Europe, but as the saying goes "it is complicated"! Welcome to the discussion Tony. Yes AGOA does indeed have the potential to offer routes out of poverty. Apart from Oil and textiles I am not sure what other items are included in this scheme, but I suspect not many if at all.

The reason why African countries cannot trade with each is a real puzzle to most folk. They are easily many more consumers in Africa than Europe, but as the saying goes “it is complicated”!

]]> By: Tony http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-323 Tony Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:31:52 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-323 Excellent piece, AGOA is a good start and Congratulations to both Bill Clinton and George Bush for seeing it through and making it what is today. <br><br>The question however is why just textiles? If the West really want to make a dent in poverty, opening their markets to trade from Africa will go a longer way than any other ill thought out project.<br><br>However when we look on the African continent, they are still to achieve free trade amongst themselves, what does that say about African countries. The regional trade groupings that exist at the moment haven't worked as well as was expected.<br><br>Is it time to practice "Real" Free Trade? Excellent piece, AGOA is a good start and Congratulations to both Bill Clinton and George Bush for seeing it through and making it what is today.

The question however is why just textiles? If the West really want to make a dent in poverty, opening their markets to trade from Africa will go a longer way than any other ill thought out project.

However when we look on the African continent, they are still to achieve free trade amongst themselves, what does that say about African countries. The regional trade groupings that exist at the moment haven't worked as well as was expected.

Is it time to practice “Real” Free Trade?

]]> By: Tweets that mention African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the Blog -- Topsy.com http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-327 Tweets that mention African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the Blog -- Topsy.com Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:47:40 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-327 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ida Horner, Africa Onthe Blog. Africa Onthe Blog said: Commenting on: Comment on African Growth and Opportunity Act by Tony http://ow.ly/18xNmG [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ida Horner, Africa Onthe Blog. Africa Onthe Blog said: Commenting on: Comment on African Growth and Opportunity Act by Tony http://ow.ly/18xNmG [...]

]]> By: Trade Growth under the African Growth and Opportunity Act « Jean-Raymond Boulle Corporations http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/#comment-271 Trade Growth under the African Growth and Opportunity Act « Jean-Raymond Boulle Corporations Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:24:04 +0000 http://www.africaontheblog.com/?p=449#comment-271 [...] African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the BlogAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act, who growth and whose opportunity is it?<http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/> [...] [...] African Growth and Opportunity Act | Africa on the BlogAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act, who growth and whose opportunity is it?<http://www.africaontheblog.com/african-growth-and-opportunity-act/&gt; [...]

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